Interview | Jonny White of COMODAA.

Above artwork by Laith McGregor, a young up and coming artist.

“Since graduating from the Victoria School of the Arts in 2007, McGregor has attracted a huge following, most notably from large State institutions and high-profile collectors. He works predominantly with Bic biro’s concentrating on figures done in a cartoon fashion. His luminescent blue figures are intricately detailed and more than often sell-out prior to opening nights. Laith has been exhibiting in France in February and had huge interest in his new body of work with a near sell-out of all drawings.”

Kieran Antill’s “End of Noise” series – Pigment & Charcoal on canvas. These beautiful artworks were a part of Australia Now COMODAA exhibition in London in September 2009, which showcased nine emerging Contemporary Australian artists.

Jonny White of COMODAA.

I have to admit that I really don’t know that much about art. It is just one of those subjects that I never quite got into and I never really tried too hard. Which is not to say that I don’t appreciate art. I absolutely do and very much so. When it comes to art, I just know what I like and what I don’t like. For me it’s as simple as that. And what I really like is the art {and the artists} Jonny White represents through his company COMODAA {Contemporary Modern Australian Art}. It’s the sort of art that you don’t have to think about too hard – you can just look at it and enjoy it’s beauty. Perfect, if you ask me.

Launched in 2009, COMODAA was established to promote Australian art to a wider international audience and to give talented, promising, collectable and highly respected contemporary artists new exposure. Through a regular exhibition schedule, which kicked off at the 3 Bedfordbury Gallery in September 2009, COMODAA are undertaking various solo and group shows in London to showcase the current contemporary artists of Non-Indigenous and Indigenous Australia. The next exhibition, titled 5 BY 5, is going to be held in May and June this year at the Menier Gallery in London. This exhibition, curated by Jonny, will be showcasing five of Australia’s leading, emerging and established contemporary artists working today.

Apart from promoting Australian art, COMODAA offer buying, selling, appraisals and valuations, framing, hanging, shipping and specialist transportation, lighting & photography of artworks, conservation/restoration and insurance. The whole shebang basically. But wait, there’s more – they also extend a week long ‘trial period’ which give the clients a chance to live with an artwork in their own home before committing to a purchase. What a fantastic idea!

Make sure to check out COMODAA website for further details on what they offer and all the artist they represent. And please join me in wishing Jonny all the very best on his mission to broaden the minds of the international audience and change their perception of what Australian art is.

Details for the upcoming exhibition:

5 BY 5
May/June 2010 Group Exhibition | Menier Gallery London
Artists exhibiting: Helen Pynor, Tony Lloyd, Anthony White, Dennis Nona & Laith McGregor.

New available work by Stefan Dunlop titled “Smoke” – oil on canvas, 40 x 40cm.

Tell me a little about your background and how did the idea for COMODAA come about? How long did it take to get it off the ground?

I was running a gallery in Sydney for 5 years and saw that overseas clients, especially Australian expats were crying out for Australian art to have on their walls. Not many gallerists had tried to promote contemporary Australian art in Europe before and having lived in Sydney for 9 years, working in the art industry, plus being from the UK, I put the 2 together. My parents have always collected art and antiques so growing up with it also helped.

COMODAA, from initial decision to incorporation, took a year – its still in its infancy and still hasn’t totally lifted off.

What was the single most important goal behind COMODAA? Have any of your goals evolved since launching the business?

My ultimate goal is to develop the profile of contemporary Australian Art overseas. When I first decided to go it alone I had a small list of artists I wanted to work with. Now only a year on I am finding the support and belief from other artists and the art industry hugely inspirational. My passion and belief in new artists also constantly grows. As they say, “If you build it (well), they will come”.

These artworks by Stefan Dunlop were also a part of Australia Now COMODAA exhibition in London in September 2009. Top – “Skull 2”, Giclee Print (edition of 10). Bottom Left – “Two Figures”, oil on canvas. Bottom Right – “Single Figure”, oil on canvas.

What is your biggest lesson learned since starting your business?

I used to have the 9-5 weekday routine where I could switch from work to home life – now with COMODAA and working from home I think the biggest lesson learnt is knowing when to divide my time between those 2 lives, as the work life of a business owner can completely engulf you. You need that balance.

I am also finding more and more recently that Australia has some of the most creative people in the world, not only artists but designers, architects, web developers etc – its an amazing time for Australia currently.

How do you go about selecting what artists to represent? Do they approach you or do you approach them? Do you rotate artists from time to time?

I only select artists that I would collect.

I ask some and get approached by others, normally by word-of-mouth or seeing them in an exhibition.

Would like to comfortably work with18 artists in total – probably won’t rotate some for at least 4-5 years. The rotation of artists doesn’t happen very often, particularly if gallerists and artists are working well together.

Gorgeous artwork by Jane Fontane remind me of cool vintage posters.  These pieces were also a part of Australia Now exhibition in London in September 2009. Top Left to Bottom Right – Robyn, Flash, Wolverine & Phantom. All limited edition screenprints (edition of 15).

What word of advice do you have for young artist on best ways to promote themselves and getting noticed in the competitive art world?

Its hard but keep at it. Have small exhibitions of your work to get started, beg/borrow from friends, make sure you send invites to commercial galleries, media, arts writers, family and friends – follow up follow up. Join an artist-run co-operative and get a good studio space with other artists. I have also seen unrepresented artists at art fairs having their own small stand – it is amazing to see such dedication.

How do you stay up to date with the art world and where do you turn for creative inspiration – books, travel, websites/ blogs etc?

I subscribe to publications like The Art Newspaper, Art World, Saatchi Gallery website and I visit lots of art fairs and exhibitions. For inspiration you can’t go past The Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney, the Tate Modern in London for sheer visual stimulation; online through TED, Anthill, The Cool Hunter but the best way is to visit artists in their studios and see the creative process. I also cannot work without music and listen to everything from Mozart to Massive Attack (with a little Daft Punk thrown in).

Sam Leach “Magpie reflection” & “Peahen” – oil and resin on board.

“Lappi Lappi Jukurrpa” artwork series by the indigenous artist Maryanne Michaels. All four artworks above were a part of Australia Now exhibition in London in September 2009.

What other artists, business people/ entrepreneurs, or peers do you admire?

Inspirational and talented people drive me: hearing or seeing good ideas come to fruition gives me motivation to keep going. Aside from the artists I deal with, painters like Dale Frank, Jon Cattapan, Ben Quilty; entrepreneurs such as Ian Kiernan (Clean Up Australia), the guys who started Earth Hour, talented sportsmen and women and closer to home, Pip Jamieson from The Loop.

What’s next – can you share with us your vision and some of your goals for COMODAA?

My ultimate goal is to see more contemporary Australian art be discussed/written about/collected/exhibited on par with other contemporary art from around the world – there isn’t enough focus at the moment on what’s happening locally.

COMODAA to be recognized as being instrumental in promoting contemporary Australian art through exhibitions around the world.

I really want to develop the website to include latest technology – such as high resolution web cams to enable customers, for example, to tour an exhibition from their homes or zoom very close into a painting in the gallery to see texture, brush strokes, etc.

“My Plastic Everything” series by Jackson Slattery – watercolour on paper.

Giles Alexander – “New York cathedral” oil and resin on polyester & “Death of Venus” archival print (edition of 8). All four artworks above were a part of Australia Now exhibition in London in September 2009.

Let’s Get Personal.

Apart from your work, what other interests or hobbies do you have?

My wife and I live by the beach so I am in the water all year round, entering into ocean swims and relaxing at the Icebergs pool and sauna. I am also addicted to golf and have a goal to play as many of the Top 100 courses in the world as possible. Music is hugely important to me, especially live.

What are some of your favorite shops and galleries?

Gould St in Bondi has some great shops and the Paddington & Bondi markets are fun to wander round. Galleries – Grantpirrie, Danks St Depot and Sullivan & Strumpf in Sydney; Dianne Tanzer, Scott Livesey and Sophie Gannon in Melbourne; Edwina Corlette in Brisbane.

Artworks by Helen Pynor. Top – Milk 3 (Birdsnest Fern). Bottom Left – Milk 4 (Wattle). Bottom Right – Milk 2 (Sydney Red Gum). C-Type photographs face-mounted on glass, Edition of 5. These works will be a part of the upcoming 5 BY 5 exhibition held at the Menier Gallery, London in May/June 2010.

Your favourite cafes/ restaurants/ bars?

Sandpit in North Bondi for coffee and brunch. Foveaux in Surry Hills and Buzo in Woollahra for dinner. I have Bondi FM playing during the day and they now have a café so its good to go see the DJ’s at work.

What is your most treasured belonging?

Our unborn baby – can’t wait to be a father.

Do you have a nickname?

Blanco – I think it started back in University.

Artworks by Tony Lloyd. Top – “Hidden Forest”. Bottom – “We’ll Always have Now”. Oil on canvas. Both artworks will be a part of the upcoming 5 BY 5 exhibition held at the Menier Gallery, London in May/June 2010.

It’s not very cool, but I really like…

Gardening – I love watching things grow and being able to eat your own fresh produce.

Your favourite joke?

“You know, somebody actually complimented me on my driving today.

They left a little note on the windscreen.

It said, ‘Parking Fine.’  So that was nice”.

– from the great Tommy Cooper.

Artwork by the indigenous artist Dennis Nona. Top – Gauatau Ural. Bottom Left – Kisai Mari Patan. Bottom Right – Thurr. Etchings, edition of 45.

“Dennis Nona is quite simply one of the most important artists working in Australia today. Hailing from Badu Island in the Torres Strait between Australia and Papua New Guinea Nona’s artwork tells stories from his ancestors passed down through generations. Being an island community the ocean is particularly prevalent in Nona’s work and coupled with his unique print-making and carving skills this artist is already becoming a name on the international art market. Nona’s artworks have doubled in price over the last 5 years.”

Anthony White artwork – “Ossuary” & “Seine 3”. Oil on canvas. All above artworks will be a part of the upcoming 5 BY 5 exhibition held at the Menier Gallery, London.

“Anthony White comes from the gestural abstractionist school of painting that has emerged from the National Art School, Sydney in the last decade. After spending time painting in New York City over the past two years, White has brought together a body of work which has a strength of colour, form and movement, rarely seen in a painter his age. A finalist in many of Australia’s most respected prizes and awards, including The Brett Whiteley Travelling Scholarship, The Churchie Emerging Artist Award and in 2007 he won the The Marten Bequest Travelling Scholarship, which took him to New York. During 2009 White lived and worked in Paris at the Cité International des Arts as part of the Storrier/Onslow Studio residency made possible by the Friends of the National Art School.”

All images courtesy of COMODAA.