Untitled No.5

Alex Wisman is a contemporary artist based in Brisbane. Working primarily in acrylic and spray paint, his work explores identity, self, and subculture. Colour is at the forefront of Alex's works, stemming from his years as a dedicated graffiti writer. By removing built up layers of paint from legal graffiti wall sites across Brisbane, he methodically splits the layers of paint revealing colours stamped in time. 

Alex's work today draws on 20 years of traveling and painting the world, with his work featuring in exhibitions across Australia, Singapore, and London. Alex's years spent studying psychology have also shaped his practice, as he aims to create a deep emotional engagement with his portraits - a moment to reflect, inviting the audience to feel.

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This original artwork - portrait of a man - is one of my few creations that hold a smile. The modern man, colourful and optimistic, puts on a smile that says it’s OK. These are the commands made through the chip in his forehead; he is controlled and told to smile. 
The portrait's composition was created using an entirely new technique - peeling off layers of paint from legal graffiti walls and gluing them together to create a mosaic. One piece can hold 10 years of history, encompassing layers of new colours and new shapes put together to convey the multidimensional masks.