FREMANTLE tattooist Aaron Ashworth has made the jump to the art world with a thought-provoking debut exhibition on the perils of social media.
Featuring 11 large scale oil paintings, Over Exposure explores the psychological and emotional impact of social media through distorted portraits, fragmented colours and the bright chaos of modern life.
“I was lucky enough to have grown up before social media, giving me space to figure things out without the constant pressure to ‘perform’ and be ‘on’ all the time,” Ashworth says.
“Seeing how young people navigate identity, connections, and information through screens has made me realise how emotionally intense that experience can be.
“Over Exposure is my way of exploring that tension between visibility and vulnerability, hopefully sparking some honest conversations along the way.”
• Fremantle artist Aaron Ashworth with some of his paintings in Over Exposure.
Ashworth is an experienced tattooist who has worked in the Freo area for nearly 15 years and is currently based at Golden Panther on Blinco Street. He started painting about two years ago.
“It was a way to experiment with different materials and further my artistic skill,” he says.
“I wanted to create art that exuded a feeling and created conversation; something that someone might hang in their house rather than wear on their skin.”
Ashworth’s art is a bit like David Bowie’s songwriting process, where he cut up lyrics and assembled them in different orders.
It’s got a collage-feel, reminiscent of the Dada and pop art movement. The end result is a complex and fractured world, where multiple things are vying for your attention.
But it’s not cluttered and there’s a overriding theme of positivity, explored through bright colours and bold motifs.
Ashworth says he is inspired by a diverse range of artists including Guido Maestri, Vincent Namatjira and Brett Whiteley.
“They all have quite different styles to each other but I love their work,” he says.
“I’m also influenced by a lot by alternative subcultures, from skateboard graphics of the 90’s, to punk music and vinyl covers.”
The Australian government’s ban on under-16s using social media starts on December 10. Critics have warned that social media can be a playground for body shaming, bullying and depression.
But others praise its ability to keep people connected and expose corruption and wrongdoing via the mass sharing of un-redacted video, information and photos.
So where does Ashworth stand on the issue?
“Social media has its pros, for sure, it can bring people together, amplify voices, and offer great opportunities both creatively and professionally,” he says.
“But it also comes with a heavy emotional weight: comparison, overstimulation, and loneliness. “Unfortunately, it’s a sort of necessary evil of the modern digital world, so I wanted to create a space where we can open up and raise awareness for the next generation.”
The opening night of the pop-up style exhibition (December 19) includes live ambient music by local DJ Pierce Ericson.
Over Exposure is at PS Art Space on Pakenham Street, Fremantle from December 19-21. For more info see psas.com.au and aaronashworth.art.
by STEPHEN POLLOCK