Weird art exhibition designed to challenge logical thinking set to premier in Lake Grace

An abstract mix of surreal paintings is set to go on display this Friday at Lake Grace Regional Artspace in an exhibit which aims to challenge logical thinking.

Vandan McKenzie’s Weird Art exhibition will feature 77 artworks ranging from canvas paintings to pencil drawings — all designed not to make sense.

Mr McKenzie has spent most of the last 20 years living in regional Tasmania, where he was an inaugural committee member of his local arts group and the author of a column called Artists in Residence.

He prides his work on unlocking the sides of his body and brain which control creative thinking.

He said he was bringing a lifetime’s worth of experience to this exhibition.

“The brain has two sides, the left and the right,” McKenzie said. “The left-hand side is the logical side, and that controls things that need to be done in a logical manner ... while the right-hand side is a creative, poetic, musical and appreciative side of the brain.

“I often start the painting with my left hand because the left-hand side of the body is controlled by the right-hand side of the brain.”

Now living in Port Kennedy, McKenzie has spent time in the South West and the Great Southern.

He stumbled on the opportunity to present his first solo art exhibition in WA in nearly 25 years when he decided to come to Lake Grace on a holiday last year.

“While we were there, Lake Grace Regional Artspace had an exhibition,” he said.

“We bought a couple of pieces and we got chatting to some of the artists and members of the group, and it was so good and they were so friendly that I asked if I could join and they said ‘yes’.”

In the last two years, he has been refining his unfinished art for an all-new exhibition.

Weird Art will open at 5.30pm on Friday and run until June 11.