In this episode, Gary and Fiona were joined by Shanti Shea An, a Sydney-based artist whose painting practice explores the complex relationship between images, language, memory, and meaning. Drawing from an eclectic range of sources, including personal photographs, literature, art history, and mass media, Shanti creates layered works that invite viewers to slow down and consider how images are read, translated, and understood. Her paintings embrace ambiguity, bringing together disparate visual languages to reveal the instability and fluidity of interpretation.
Our conversation delves into the ideas that underpin Shanti’s practice, from her fascination with repetition, doubling, and translation to the influence of philosophy and the image of the book within contemporary painting. We discuss how research and studio practice intersect in her work, the role of visual references in shaping a painting, and how uncertainty can become a productive creative tool. Shanti also reflects on exhibiting in Australia and internationally, the evolution of her visual language, and the ongoing possibilities she finds within the medium of painting. Thoughtful, generous, and deeply reflective, she offers a compelling insight into a practice that balances intellectual rigour with intuition and visual experimentation.
Shanti Shea An (b. 1993) holds a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Painting) from the ANU School of Art & Design and completed a practice-led PhD examining concepts of doubling, legibility, and translation within painting. She has exhibited throughout Australia and internationally and is represented by Velvet Lobster Gallery in New South Wales.
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