Artist Jem Ham
Congratulations to Jem Ham for earning his place as a Finalist in the Boynes Artist Award 9th Edition [Professional Artist category]!
Who are you?
I am a conundrum, a melting pot of ideas shaped by culture, time and natural forces. But most of this is internal, unseen by the everyday. It seeps out though, through my art, the twilight language of my soul.
Born in Melbourne, Australia, my artistic curiosity burgeoned during childhood through hours spent alone climbing trees and daydreaming about existence. Projecting my imaginative visions onto the canvas of reality was a favourite pastime of mine. I was always more inward then outward and absorbed visual stimuli like a sponge. It was here in this inner world that I tried to make sense of life and found a means of escape, a timeout from reality. This realm was precious to me, a realm I guarded closely, yet paradoxically I nurtured a desire to share it with the world.
There came a point when the desire to express and convey this inner world outweighed my fears of sharing it, propelling me onto the path of artistic exploration. Echoing the sentiments of John Guare's words in "Six Degrees of Separation," I came to embrace the notion that imagination functions as our self-authored passport to navigate the real world.
Today, my passport is well used with stamps from across the globe, both in the real and imaginary worlds. The impetus for my mark marking now originates from deeper within the psyche - as ‘images staring at you from the walls of your mind, throwing up mirrors to our own nature’. Yet I continue to return to the conundrum, determined to find answers, feeling like a nomad on the inside. I wander about the desert of the real, in search of revelations about who I am, who we are. And if the search reveals nothing, well, I’ll still be up and awake for breakfast in the morning.
“An evolving soul”
Pencil on Paper
By Jem Ham
What inspired you to utilize Painting as a medium?
It is the captivating blend of meditative focus and visceral flow that it offers. At the age of four, my connection to painting was sparked by the simple act of painting with water on brick walls – an act that gave me a sense of agency and freedom to create something unique.
This sensation of agency, of being able to shape something distinct and singular, has remained a driving force in my artistic journey. Each brushstroke becomes a testament to my creative energy and intention.
Just as no two snowflakes are alike, no two brushstrokes are identical. This understanding of the inherent individuality within each stroke, each carrying its own history and energy, has instilled in me a profound appreciation for the organic nature of the painting process.
“Wayward thinking- a boy with a dream”
Acrylic on canvas
By Jem Ham
How would you describe your ARTwork?
My art is the twilight language of my soul, where the real and imaginary are fused together in a world of their own. In this world, I attempt to unravel the day to day psyche through the use of surrealist automatism and biomorphic forms, reflecting a journey of evolving self-awareness, reaching from the physical world, to mind and spirit.
Through the stroke of a brush or mark of a pencil, my works expand moments of being into physical form, crystallising thoughts and emotions, reflecting humanity back onto itself. Capturing moments of doubt and confusion, of weakness and strength, of joy and sorrow, of fantasy and reality, of whimsy and clarity, and of love and longing, my art is in essence a soapbox for the subconscious mind.
“Identity crisis”
Acrylic on linen
By Jem Ham
Can you discuss the inspiration and thought process behind your winning work?
My artistic journey has long been guided by the convergence of art and psychology, and my recent dive into the concept of the shadow self as defined by Carl Jung sparked the desire to explore this in a work of art. The work draws on a fusion of diverse influences including elements of Greek mythology and the aesthetics of Gustav Klimt.
Throughout the creative process, I allowed my subconscious mind to guide the way, embracing the flow of ideas as they surfaced. The connection to Greek mythology emerged when the name Persephone spontaneously entered my thoughts during the contemplation of this artwork. Curiosity led me to research, revealing that Persephone was the Queen of the underworld. This resonated deeply with the themes of hidden aspects and psychological depths. Her mythological journey mirrored the concept of the shadow self - a journey into the concealed corners of the human psyche.
Initially in my mind, Persephone’s ‘pet’ took on the form of a beast that symbolized her hidden psyche that she confronted within the depths of the underworld. However, this dynamic evolved as Persephone forged a bond with the beast, and their interaction shifted from conflict to genuine friendship akin to that which someone has with their pet. This transformation in their relationship symbolizes the journey of encountering one's shadow self, initially confronting and later embracing it, ultimately resulting in greater harmony within.
“Persephone and her pet - a journey through the underworld.”
Acrylic on linen
By Jem Ham
Can you walk us through the technical steps of creating your winning work?
The creation of ‘Persephone and her pet’ involved a slightly different approach than I usually take. The work evolved from playing around with different scanned in drawings of mine from over the years and tweaking elements from previous artworks on my laptop. From here, the technical steps involved included deciding on a colour palette, producing a colour mockup and transferring the image to the canvas.
One of the crucial decisions was selecting the color palette. This choice had the potential to significantly influence the emotional impact and overall atmosphere of the piece. Using yellow tones in the background was intended to evoke a sense of caution and warning, while simultaneously creating an air of optimism and hope.
“Man and his spirit bird”
Oil on linen
By Jem Ham
What do you hope to communicate to an audience with your work?
I aim to spark conversations within the minds and hearts of people. I want to provoke thought, evoke emotions, and arouse within the viewer a curiosity to explore the nuances of their humanity. By inviting them to navigate the orchestrated complexities within my work, I hope to encourage introspection and inspire a journey of discovery that extends far beyond the confines of the canvas.
I aim to create works that extrapolate reality and explore worlds within worlds. My intention is to invite viewers to detach momentarily from the familiar and seek alternative perspectives, embrace ambiguity, and embrace the beauty of multi-layered interpretations.
“Rebirth-a metamorphosis of self”
Acrylic on linen
By Jem Ham
Can you talk about your biggest learning experience during the process of creating your work?
One time when I was working on a larger artwork, I impulsively opted to go further with it than I should, resulting in what I thought was a ruined artwork. I couldn’t bear to look at it after that. The piece languished in my studio, banished to face the wall.
Three to four months later, a sudden epiphany dawned on me – a means by which I could resurrect and transform this seemingly condemned artwork. The history of the previous failure was transformed into an integral part of the finished piece. My lesson from this was to never throw a piece away that I think is a failure. It can be a stepping stone to build on to make a beautiful work of art.
“The faces of loneliness”
Acrylic on linen
By Jem Ham
Can you discuss your biggest success since starting your artistic journey?
Up until recently, I would have said that it was winning the Best Painting at the City of Kalgorlie-Boulder Art Prize in 2021. However, I consider the breakthrough moment I had last week to be the best success to date. This breakthrough represents a pivotal turning point in my artistic growth.
For a while now, I have wanted to challenge the status quo of my existing art practice. I felt it had reached a point where my perfectionist streak had stifled my creative flow. Yet, despite this awareness, I still hadn’t mustered the courage to truly face uncertainty and completely let go within an artwork. While I had experimented tentatively on a few pieces in the past, underlying fears continued to hold me back.
Deep within, I understood that overcoming this hurdle would unlock an entirely new realm of unexplored creativity and uninhibited flow. This realization drove me to draw inspiration from the practices of Tibetan monks who create intricate sand mandalas only to dismantle them upon completion, symbolizing the impermanence of life. This symbolic act of destruction embodies the transient nature of existence.
By allowing myself to embrace this concept, I metaphorically dismantled my own barriers and let the raw ‘Jem’ come out. The process of starting from a blank canvas, free from attachment to any particular idea, and allowing the destruction of one concept to pave the way for the next, was an exhilarating and transformative experience.
In essence, my biggest success since embarking on my artistic journey is not about achieving external recognition or awards, but about achieving a profound internal transformation.
“Unfocused”
Acrylic on linen
By Jem Ham
Can you share with us the best piece of advice you you wish you had known at the start of your career?
Early on, I wish I had understood the value of not fixating on perfecting every detail. Spending too much time refining the final portion of a piece can hinder growth. Embracing an iterative approach and viewing mistakes as 'happy accidents' has proven more enriching than hyper-focusing on details. So, my advice is to embrace imperfections, explore the unexpected, and prioritize the journey of creation over the destination of perfection, allowing the creative process to flourish organically.
“The Flood - a moment of surrender”
Acrylic on linen
By Jem Ham
As a finalist, do you have any advice for artists who want to submit to awards, competitions, residencies, etc.?
My advice is to prioritize authenticity and maintain faith in your unique creative process. Avoid the trap of comparing yourself to others or conforming to trends. True growth arises from staying true to your artistic identity.
Cultivate self-awareness by understanding your artistic motivations and the significance of your work. Practice articulating your artistic vision through writing and speaking. Openly embrace constructive criticism; it's a pathway to improvement. Remember, success isn't solely defined by accolades, but by your connection to your art. Stay genuine, committed, and true to your individual journey.
“The natural explorer - homosapien erectofloras”
Pencil on Paper
By Jem Ham
What projects are you working on currently? Can you discuss them?
At the moment, I'm immersed in the exploration of my newfound creative process, now with the medium of oil paints. While my previous paintings have predominantly been in acrylics, this transition to oils goes hand in hand with the expansion of my creative practice.
What is your dream project or piece you hope to accomplish?
I would love to create a series of larger-scale artworks that seamlessly blend free-flowing states with intricate details, using oils or mixed media. These pieces would embody a fusion of my older detailed style with my newfound creative process (as described above), rooted in non-attachment and the altered state of consciousness aka "the flow state".
I am also drawn to the prospect of exploring large-scale sculptural works.
“The seat of perplexion”
Acrylic on linen
By Jem Ham
Lastly, I like to ask everyone what advice they would give to their fellow artists, what is your advice?
Creativity isn’t something that can be taught. It is a state of mind. Tap into your subconscious mind and utilize the flow state. Our conscious mind can only process a limited amount of information (120 bits), but the subconscious can process billions of bits at once. Don’t be afraid to steal the fire from the gods and disrupt the norm.
To view more of Jem Ham