Artworks are first available to purchase in person at the exhibition held from 4-10 Oct at King George Square.
Online sales will open following the exhibition.
Edward Trost has over 30 years working in the arts industry producing all types of media.
With an Arts major in sculpture, Ed has created many ceramic and metal sculptures, however, his latest work has been developing a series of pyrographic or ‘pokerwork’ portraits on plywood. This hand drawn technique produces a textural element to the art as the portrait is burnt into the plywood reducing it to an abstracted collection of tones and individual burn marks.
Ed selects his subjects from people whose inner strength has given them resilience in the face of mental health challenges. He hopes that by highlighting people actively working through these issues, his art will help to correct misconceptions about debilitating illness.
Major General John Cantwell AO has seen the ugliness of war firsthand, commanding Australian troops in military campaigns across the world. It is this that drove him to write ‘Exit Wounds’, an enlightening book about his experiences dealing with war.
He is now retired but continues to be a voice in the media on the impact war has on mental health. This is why I chose him as my subject – someone using their status to speak out about mental health.