KATE BEYNON

THE EARTH DRAGON: Kate’s artwork, titled ‘Dragon Goddess Guardian Spirits for Earth’, features the Earth Dragon and is inspired by her family and pets.

ARTIST PROFILE:

Kate Beynon is a Hong Kong-born, Naarm/Melbourne-based multidisciplinary contemporary artist of Cantonese-Malaysian and Celtic/Welsh ancestries. Shaped by interests in storytelling, hybrid identity, auspicious imagery and guardian figures, Kate works across painting, textile sculpture, immersive spaces, collaborative animation, projection art and fashion – including her label, TudoKB.

Represented by: Sutton Gallery

Photo credit: Ben Clement at Collingwood Yards

ARTIST Q&A

How are you celebrating Lunar New Year this year? Do you have a favourite tradition?

Our family will celebrate by gathering at my cousin’s house for a Lunar New Year feast. We all bring dishes — a delish hybrid mix of Cantonese and Malaysian flavours (my Mum, my son, the Aunties, my brother and relatives are all excellent cooks!). We usually start with a version of ‘Lucky Fish Salad’ or (aka 'Yee Sang'!)— an array of fresh and pickled veg, raw or cured fish, crunchy elements and a tangy dressing, which gets mixed by everyone ’tossing’ it with chopsticks, for good luck and blessings for the New Year. The Rabbit Year was tumultuous with a couple of epic creative project highlights but also some challenges and sorrow, so we are hoping the Dragon Year will be more positive overall.

What was the inspiration behind the piece you’ve created for Lunar New Year?

I was imagining a fierce Dragon Goddess Guardian figure, alongside a benevolent Dragon companion and Lion Dogs (inspired by our fur-fam: Staffy pup Lord Xango, his big cuz Zu, and the spirit of our beloved late dog Tudo) to bring positive creative energies, as kindred spirits for the Earth.

What does your process look like when you’re creating a piece like this?

For me the process starts with sketching, line drawing composition and testing colour combinations. After transferring the initial design in an ‘old school’ way via tracing paper and pencil, I work in watercolour, gouache and metallic pigment, painting in the colours. Sometimes the watercolours dry in unexpected ways. I also enjoy adding finer details with my tiniest brush!

How does the element of earth come out through the piece?

The element of Earth signifies cycles of life and regrowth; in my work lotus plants, tangerine, succulents and sansevieria are symbolic of growth, healing, regeneration ... especially with the Earth in peril from ecological damage, social injustice and war. On a positive note, I feel we have to hold hope for kindness and kindred spirits to come together and stay strong.