Biography

THE ARRIVAL
Grainger Gallery
Opening 24 August 6pm

The Arrival series, as a collection of paintings, are uniquely identified by the inclusion of
(*borrowed ) images of the now much revered Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus) along
with a range of protagonists including Captain James Cook and other early Europeans. The
intention of utilising disparate materials within and on the painted surface is to highlight 'The
Arrival' of the European colonialists, as they too, did not fit into the landscape rather sought to
change it. I also look to contemporary conversations around indigenous rights that rightly remain
topical, and here I am posing the question; Are we one people who have a common story or a
milieu of individuals existing in close proximity to one another, without understanding,
compassion or recognition of the shared historical events that continue to blind us to our
connection?
On a personal level, it is my hope that, in some small way, my art will tempt the viewer to
examine the complexities of identity.
* borrowed: taken and used with permission or as Ned Kelly might have suggested, borrowed for
the greater good.

Artist Statement
My name is David Toner, I am a self taught artist living and working in Canberra which is located
on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples who are recognised as the traditional
custodians of the ACT and surrounding areas.
My works mostly consist of subjects linked to the landscape. I utilise a range of mediums
including oil and acrylic paints, natural pigments, gold leaf,charcoal and paper on varied surfaces.
I use a range of implements to apply paint to the surface including the ubiquitous brush, palette
knives, fingers, paper, cloth, well you get the picture, just don't leave anything in reach when I'm
painting.
Much of the inspiration for my subjects is drawn from an ever expanding fascination with the
Australian landscape. Having spent my early years in a small settlement located on the foothills
of the Brindabellas I am left with an indelible impression of the wildness of our country. It is this
early connection to the land that continues to draw me into the Bush that surrounds my home
town of Canberra. I express this connection to the natural world through my art and look to
create impressions of real and imagined landscapes. I seek to draw and expand on the themes
represented by Australian artists such as Sidney Nolan, Arthur Boyd along with the works
attributed to members of the Heidelberg school. Contemporary artists such as Guy Warren,
Elisabeth Cummings, Euan Macleod, Luke Sciberras, to name a few, also provide me with
stimulus linked to the landscapes within their collective oeuvre.