Nightlife is a body of work that has evolved out of an interest in Australian iconic culture. My art practice involves bridging my interest in questions of cultural identity, vernacular culture and iconic emblems with aspects of my own autobiography. In particular, I use family photographs and my own documentation of significant events, people and places as the basis of the imagery for my paintings.

In Nightlife I was initially interested in addressing the culture of backyard barbecues and parties and began by documenting people celebrating, relaxing and generally enjoying themselves. I was especially drawn to night scenes and the way in which colours and composition were affected by the surrounding darkness of night. I liked the idea of containing these night scenes and so began painting inside inverted glasses, which represented an aspect of drinking and party culture, as well as referencing the contained space of snowdomes. I am particularly interested in the way in which small-scale and miniature works can entice the viewer into the visual and emotional space of the depicted image and the way a closely inspected small-scale work can visually occupy as much space – if not more – than a work that is already physically big.

Waratah Lahy, 2008

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Select Exhibitions

• Waratah Lahy - Look
• Waratah Lahy - Nightlife
• Melbourne Art Fair 2008 - Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton
• Art + Humour Too - Curated Group Exhibition

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