Mason Kimber. Image: courtesy National Art School.
An artistic residency at the British School at Rome has seen National Art School (NAS) graduate Mason Kimber return home inspired with a new focus for his visual arts practice.
Kimber spent a whirlwind three months during April to June immersed amid archaeologists, art historians and fellow artists in what he described as an academic, scholarly environment. ‘What really fascinated me were fresco paintings – the paintings on the walls. So I’m trying to incorporate them into a new direction,’ he said.
‘We had lectures, meetings and tours. There was so much to do and it was so enriching. I also had my own studio apartment so I could focus on work. I feel that those three months that I was away I have exponentially grown as an artist. You can’t really do that when you’re at home or in the same spot. It’s hard to describe – it was incredible,’ he said.
After completing the Master of Fine Art (Painting) in 2013, Kimber said that the overseas travel post degree has allowed him to expand and extend upon the theoretical and practical ideas explored within the coursework and his painting. ‘It provides a whole new outlook, which gives you a whole new direction. There’s so much history over in Rome.’
Residencies abroad at the British School at Rome form just one of the many opportunities available to students at the National Art School, with prospective students now invited to attend the forthcoming Open Day on Saturday 30 August.
Kimber said that anybody considering an application to one of the prestigious programs commencing in 2015 would discover a supportive and enriching community. ‘It’s a privilege to be a part of that. It’s not just the course – it’s a lifelong thing. You’re really entering the family of the school. It’s an incredible location; they do have history and a style of teaching [with] technical ability which I responded to.’
Looking ahead, Kimber said he has been preparing for an upcoming solo show at Sydney’s Galerie Pompom. ‘I want to focus on that, and make that into a proper show. Right now I’m getting studio space, applying for things and hopefully a few group shows come up.’
Equally, his long-term dreams are for more residencies, more travel and a self-sustaining career as a visual artist. ‘That’s the main goal so I’d just like to be a full-time artist,’ he said.
Applications to the National Art School are currently invited for a range of full-time programs in 2015.
For more information visit the Open Day on 30 August or visit the National Art School website.
