2018 "Perspectives" A Solo Exhibition- Jan Cleveringa- Sheffer Gallery- Opening 14th March 2018

"Perspectives" Exhibition is a contemporary, multidisciplinary show exploring impacts of global cultural change, attitudes and identity resulting in painting, sculpture, video and other forms.

Essentially, the exhibition explores a range of growing cultures and their paradigmatic shifts in formation and their impacts on society. This includes uncovering myths, prophetic possibilities and subjective knowledges that elucidate new and interesting ideas.

2017 Recent Paintings from Electronic Sketches- Mobile Phone Project

Cleveringa-Screenshot1'-Painting-Canvas-60x45x4cm

Cleveringa-Screenshot2'-Painting-Canvas-60x45x4cm

Cleveringa-Screenshot3'-Painting-Canvas-60x45x4cm

"Epiphany"- Light Art Projection Installation- Finalist 2016 Chippendale New World Art Prize

"Epiphany," (a projection onto canvas) is inspired by colour, beauty and the spiritual uses new world technology much like a painter that sketches a study for a painting. I have misused phone app software to make electronic sketches as small as 2kb in size (rather than pencil) that have been enlarged, changed and continually developed and screenshot until I have been satisfied in its final form for an oil painting or this projection work which goes onto canvas. This particular work asks- is it a painting, a photograph, a projected light work, a moving image, a technological installation, an abstract work or realism? Is it about technology and beauty?
‘Epiphany’ uses the aesthetics of and the discipline of painting (once claimed as ‘dead’) where painting continues to be inspired by new and exciting technologies that also seem to impact on our social culture, identity, beauty and the everyday.

There are about 2-3 Billion people using mobile phone app edited images distorting their reality to make their lives and reflective images seem more beautiful than they really are and thus creating a pseudo reality phenomenon. How does this influence attitudes about identity and beauty? What are the social consequences on the human psyche, its impact and our attitudes in contemporary society?

2014 Hatch Arts Program, Sunnyfield

I was so pleased and happy to be part of this great Sunnyfield art program named Hatch Series 4.

My love to all who participated. It's a great thing.

http://www.unbardtv.org.au/#!series-4/c1302

2014 Jan Cleveringa- "Who?"

2014 Jan Cleveringa- "Who?"
Acrylic Paint, Bones and Resin on Canvas,
62 x 62 x 4cm

I have rejected my usual approach to painting for a more installation type work using uncomfortable materials in a passionate way about my spiritual experience through depressed eyes. Depression a has been exposed using a ghastly experience being expressed through somewhat ghostly and disturbing material. Nothing can be more naturally insecure than to expose deep horrible feelings of despair, loss and contradictory hope in the conundrum of depression.

The stigma, the discrimination about mental health, and the commonality of the illness in our growing society. The emotional realities like switching realms allows for a changed spiritual perception and for life changing different views. An experience, hard to share in intensity.

In this work, I collected these bones for over a year from chickens that I ate whilst thinking about this work, unsure of what would result or if I would use them. I just needed to collect them. Each bone having been in my mouth and their flesh ingested symbolise the organic human needs like hunger, love and morbidity raising the big faith questions of "Who am I and why?" Hence, feeding off the flesh of animals and the normal but ritualistic time taken to do this provide a disturbing recognition and almost urky realisation of the human condition for the viewer. Perhaps a small glance into the similar disturbed condition of depression.

Here, open to different interpretation, the organic machine is broken like a machine wheel or human egg where intense emotions and spiritual awakenings/feelings come and go in a snapshot of a tide of glassy black like water washing against bones in an ebb and flow movement. An intuitive way of making art.

2014 Jan Cleveringa"What On Earth Are We Eating Exhibition"At The Vanishing Point Gallery, NewtownAssorted Paintings

Cleveringa’s painting is an act of sharing, digesting, and reproducing a cultural perspective into something that is current, refashioned and new.

He raises issues about the symbols, signs and signifiers involved in the context of Australian identity.

The subjects,words and phrases he uses are from a perceived ‘Aussie culture.’ They create a semiotic awareness used in everyday life. They pose questions about cultural Hegemonies, group polarization, and the ingredients of what an ‘Aussie culture’ might be.

He uncovers change mechanisms, attitudes, world influences, technological change, political leadership, and other shared acts that create or reinforce Aussie culture.

These paintings are about semiotically digesting supposed iconic ‘Aussie Foods’. What makes them Australian? How are they an act of culture, associated with producing, sharing, and digesting them both literally but also their related symbology, signs and signifiers? How do they promote, include, exclude and reinforce Aussie values in terms of Australian identity?

2013 "A Dinkum Anzac Bickie Mate"
Acrylic and Enamel Paint on Marine Plywood
60cm x 80cm x 4.8cm

2013 "A Humdinger Pav Mate"
Acrylic and Enamel Paint on Marine Plywood
60cm x 80cm x 4.8cm

2013 "Vegie Toast and a Cuppa Mate"
Acrylic and Enamel Paint on Marine Plywood
60cm x 80cm x 4.8cm

2013 "A Ripper Steak and Veg Mate"
Acrylic and Enamel Paint on Marine Plywood
60cm x 80cm x 4.8cm

2014 ResidencyPurple Noon Gallery (2 Mths)

2014 Residency (Apr-May, 2mths)
Freeman's Reach, NSW.

Thank you Robyn Williams, Director.

2011-2013 Jan Cleveringa"Power Tool Paintings"

Cleveringa is interested in the idea of culture as a shared experience between people. He sees his painting as act of sharing, digesting, and reproducing cultural experiences into something that is refashioned and new.

His current work is about the symbols and signs of ‘male-ness’ in the context of Australian identity. The text that is incorporated are words invoked from Australian culture. These works are about the semiotics behind Australian Identity.

2013 Jan Cleveringa"The Australian Identity Series"Collage Series

"The You Beaut Country and the Cricket BBQ"
Collage on Paper

This artwork is about the typical Aussie Cricket Barbecue (BBQ or Barbie) where people can be invited over to watch the Cricket on TV either whilst having the BBQ. It might also be a family affair at home.

The use of "The You Beaut Country" text comes not only from a phrase used in Australian culture but also comes from John Olsen's Video documentary some many years ago when he painted Lake Ayers when the rains hit and made the lake massive and full of life (A childhood memory of mine so to say).

The picture, though seemingly humorous using the visual pun of the cricket, is a serious part of Aussie culture in the Summer season and some of the glue that informs Australians that they are Aussies and part of Aussie culture. This may be true for the new migrants too who may learn about Cricket to be less culturally different to others. It exposes one way of fitting into Australian life and an opportunity not to be so different. There are plenty of semiotic undertones and signifiers here into Australian culture, its formation and production, for those theorists amongst us. Perhaps, it's part of the dominant Aussie cultural Hegemony.

Hit it for Six mate!

2013 "A Wilful, Lavish Land Holding up Australia Day"
Collage on Paper

2013 Australian Identity Series
"Scanning the Aussie Meathead My Homing Thoughts Will Fly"
Collage and Paper

2013 Jan Cleveringa "The First Boat People" Finalist- Fishers Ghost, Campbelltown City Art Prize

2013 The First Boat People
Acrylic and Enamel Gloss Paint on Marine Plywood
160cm x 122cm x 4.8cm

2012- Jan Cleveringa "Fair Go Mate" Finalist- Fishers Ghost, Campbelltown City Art Prize

2012 "Fair Go Mate, Thumbs Up and Circular Saw"
Acrylic and Enamel Gloss on Canvas"
122cm x 152.5cm x 4cm

2012 Jan Cleveringa HOWZAT Finalist- Hawkesbury Art Prize

2012 "Howzat, Circular Saw and Arrow"
Acrylic and Enamel Exterior Gloss Paint on Marine Plywood
60cm x 60cm x 4.8cm

This artwork is about the symbols and signs of ‘male-ness’ in the context of Australian identity. The text that is incorporated are words invoked from Australian culture.

2011 Jan CleveringaHills Shire Times

2010- Jan Cleveringa "Tony Planing Our Doors" Finalist Blacktown City Art Prize

"Tony Planing our Doors (The Endless Knot)"
Acrylic and Enamel Paint on Canvas
75cm x 100cm x 3.5cm
“Cleveringa devotes himself to capturing ‘a moment of experience’ by using the cultural symbols, semiotic signs and stories that surround him. He uses knowledge and images that he comes across from everyday life, work and other interests and invests this into his artwork.
Cleveringa is interested in the idea of culture as a shared experience between people. He sees his painting as act of sharing, digesting, and reproducing cultural experiences into something that is refashioned and new.

About This Work
“Tony Planing our Doors” is a painting that draws upon a moment of experience whereby a friend of the artist, Tony, in his generosity and selflessness came to the artist home to plane the bottom of the doors that no longer shut properly because of the swelling heat of the house. The artist was inspired by the act of altruism. The image of an electric planer is meshed with symbols of the day and interconnected with an event in time. The Kookaburra could be heard laughing in the morning, the Buddhist symbol in the right corner represents the artist attempting Yoga and spirituality during the week and the gum leaves perhaps representing the Australian spirit. The ants were inspired by Dali as a thought in the background about the art world and the Pop Art colours and dots were inspired by the artist love of Warhol and Lichtenstein. In the moment of experience there is a complex air of interconnectedness between the symbols but also a feeling of openness and simplicity. The painting is not only a reflection of feeling and gratitude but also a reflection of interconnected experiences making that memory in time.

2010 Jan CleveringaCommissioned Public Work- LandCom Pty. Ltd.

2010 Jan Cleveringa
Commissioned Public Work- LandCom Pty. Ltd.
"Semiotic Poetry in the Suburbs"
Acrylic and Enamel Paint on Industrial Wall"
30m x 1.8 m x 0.08m

2010 December Studio shot.

One section of ten.