October 19, 2012
photographer petrina hicks
After working as a commercial photographer for many years, Sydney-based Petrina Hicks now focuses on her fine art work. She is well-known for her portraits of the model Lauren, pictured second from top, and portraying a tension between beauty and imperfection. Petrina has won several prizes for her work, including the 2008 ABN Amro Emerging Artist Award. She has also exhibited in Germany and Japan, and at the National Gallery of Victoria as well as the Museum of Brisbane. In Sydney she is represented by the Stills Gallery.
Which five words best describe you? Depends which day you catch me - today it’s calm, focused, inspired, patient.
How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I started working as a photography assistant to commercial photographers in Sydney. I did this for 6 years, before working as a commercial photographer myself. I then grew frustrated with this, and started to develop my art practice again, and now this is what my time revolves around.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? "Nothing is perfect, nothing lasts, and nothing is finished".
What’s your proudest career achievement? It’s yet to happen.
What’s been your best decision? Destroy and create, create and destroy.
Who inspires you? The list would be infinite, as I’m inspired by everything, in the realm of the arts a few key inspirations have been: Kiki Smith, Cindy Sherman, Michael Borremans, Vermeer.
What are you passionate about? Real food, yoga, non possession – or not being weighed down by ones possessions.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Leonardo Da Vinci
What dream do you still want to fulfil? To have a garden.
What are you reading? Words Without Pictures (a series of texts published by Los Angeles County Museum of Art).
images courtesy of petrina hicks