About Gitte
To me, my art is giving the subconscious a voice without the restrictions and demands of the mind. It enriches life; with untold stories, colourful quests and a place to let go.
I was born and raised in Denmark. Always an explorer of creative expression, growing up I would spend hours in my room drawing, painting and writing and later attended classes in any creative discipline I could find. In my mid twenties I completed a bachelor degree in Graphic Design (2002). This led to a committed practice of painting, born from the urge to break free from strict guidelines and conventional design, into a language of free expression.
Moving to Australia in 2005, I have held regular solo and group exhibitions and have been a finalist in a number of art prizes. Pursuing my interest in psychology and human behaviour, I completed a Bachelor of Applied Social Science (2010) and worked part time in the field of mental health and career development for a number of years, until art became a full-time practice in 2016.
The abstract expressionist movement, as well as systems theory, chaos theory, and the notion of happen-stance, have been major influences on my practice. It has pushed me towards raw spontaneous visual expression and continues to inform my work.
Predominantly an abstract painter, in recent years my practice has expanded into a broader ray of approaches including experimental printmaking, mixed media on paper, and assemblage art, created from old discarded and found objects. I find it an important part of my practice to explore and develop new approaches to my visual language.
The common theme throughout my practice relates to questioning our roles in the world and navigating the human experience, through a strong connection to nature.
Artist Statement
In creating there is freedom. It is an opportunity to withdraw from the busy world and let my subconscious express itself, without the restrictions or demands of the mind. It’s a place where I allow the process to unfold of its own accord and enjoy the untold stories that arise spontaneously. Letting go is a constant practice and I am committed to letting the unknown continue to enrich me.
By nature I am reflective – I observe and question the world and our roles in it. The artworks allow for quiet contemplation and wild rides, tapping into memories and conjuring imaginary landscapes and new questions. I am the curious observer – honouring the drive that continues to pull me forward to explore this bizarre and wondrous world we live in. The abstract expressionist movement has had a major influence on my approach to art. It has supported my urge to create freely, exploring the process of creation itself, rather than aiming for a premeditated outcome. My interest in psychology has contributed to the reflective aspects of my practice and continues to play an important role in the narrative of my art.
It’s important for me to keep exploring and expanding my practice and I love introducing new materials and approaches in my work. In recent years my practice has expanded into a broader ray of approaches including experimental printmaking, mixed media on paper, and assemblage art created from old discarded and found objects.
The common theme throughout my practice relates to questioning our roles in the world and navigating the human experience.
Gitte Backhausen 2020
CV
SOLO Exhibitions
2020 Where We Are, Fern Street Gallery, Gerringong NSW
2019 InBetween, Fern Street Gallery, Gerringong NSW
2019 Presence of Nature, Art Bar, Kiama NSW
2018 Secret Landscapes, Fern Street Gallery, Gerringong NSW
2018 Nuances of Life Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Nowra NSW
2017 Re:Loved Little Blowhole Art Bar, Kiama NSW
2016 Ever-changing Little Blowhole Art Bar, Kiama NSW
2013 Pop Up Gallery at Challis Studio, Sydney
2011 Sydney Art Expo, Solo stall
2009 Forgotten World Global Gallery, Sydney
2008 Kringlen Galleri, Hune, Denmark
2008 The Intuitive Well Gallery, Sydney
2006 Foer Australien ‘KulturStationen’, Skørping, Denmark
2006 Colourful Stories Cafe Nostimo, Sydney
2006 Life’s Colours Art Moment Gallery, Sydney
2005 Artville Artshow Copenhagen, Denmark
2004 Variationer at ‘KulturStationen’s Galleri’ Skørping, Denmark
2003 Udtryk til Indtryk ‘Kvarterhuset’ Copenhagen, Denmark
Selected Group Exhibitions
2021 Between Earth and Sky Duo Exhibition with Lissa de Sailles, FSG
2020 Colour & Life Duo Exhibition, Fern Street Gallery
2020 Transforming, King & Ayres, Wollongong
2019 Worlds of Wonder Fern Street Gallery
2019 Friends of Hazelhurst Hazelhurst Regional Gallery NSW
2019 Locals on Board Wollongong Art Gallery
2019 Water Fern Street Gallery, Gerringong NSW
2019 Girt by Sea, Rochfort Gallery, Sydney NSW
2019 Illawarra Local, Artsite Gallery, Sydney NSW
2019 Summertime, Fern Street Gallery, NSW
2019 Locals on Board, Wollongong Art Gallery, NSW
2018 Salon Exhibition alongside ‘Whimsy’ Exhibition, Rochfort Gallery, Sydney NSW
2018 Pigments at Play, Rochfort Gallery, Sydney NSW
2018 Everything in Between, Clifton School of Arts
2016 Kiama Art Society 38th Annual Exhibition
2016 Fresh Batch Platform72 Art Gallery, Sydney.
2009 Korea-Australia Exchange Group Exhibition by Seoul Art Centre,
Gongpyeong Gallery and Cross Bay Gallery, hosted by Global Gallery, Sydney
2009 Two Danish Artists, Helen Stephens Gallery, Sydney
2007 Group Exhibition with Global artists, Global Gallery, Sydney
2006 New Breed Global Gallery, Sydney
Prizes
2021 Fisher’s Ghost Art Award Finalist
2021 Lethbridge Small Scale Art Award Finalist
2020 & 2018 Kangaroo Vallery Art Prize Finalist
2018 Meroogal Womens Art Prize Finalist
2018 Northern Beaches Art Prize Finalist
2017 Northern Beaches Art Prize Finalist
2016 Blacktown City Art Prize Finalist
2016 Warringah Art Prize Finalist
2016 Waverley Art Prize Finalist
Education
2020 Sustaining your Painting Practice w. Tonee Messiah, National Art School
2020 Abstract Drawing & Painting w. Yvonne Langshaw
2020 Experimental Printmaking w. Kirtika Kain, National Art School Sydney
2019 Plen Air Painting w. Jo Bertini
2018 Abstract Painting w. Catherine Cassidy
2018 Colour Workshop w. Carmel Byrne
2017 Hand Made Brushes and Mark Making w. Lorna Crane
2017 Painting Master class w. Roger Crawford, National Art School Sydney
2016 Mentoring with Pam Cowper
2015 Mixed media with Pam Cowper, Waverly Art School, Sydney
2014 Mixed Media with Joanne Mulcahy-Zubani, Sydney
2007-2010 Bachelor of Applied Social Science, Australian College of Applied Psychology, Sydney.
2004 Painting residency, Ærø, Denmark
1999-2002 Bachelor in Graphic Design, Seminariet for Formgivning, Denmark
1998 Drawing, design and visual communication, The School of Visual Arts, Copenhagen Denmark
1996-1998 Graphic Design and Visual communication Copenhagen Technical College, Denmark
1994-97 Various courses in Drawing, painting, sculpture and ceramics, Denmark
Commissions
2018 Private Collection, Gerringong NSW
2017 Private Collection, Darlinghurst, Sydney
2016 Private Collection, Lilyfield, Sydney
2008 Corporate research company, Sydney CBD
2008 Private Collection, Vaucluse, Sydney
2006 Private Collection, Bondi, Sydney
2005 Private Collection, Denmark.