Gus Eagleton

Memories of Mona Vale, 2023

Memories of Mona Vale highlights the natural beauty of the suburb's coastal lifestyle. This artwork is a contemporary view of Mona Vale consisting of heritage and modern imagery. The foundation of the painting is repurposed photographs of heritage-listed buildings such as Brock Follys Mansion, the Rock Lily Hotel and the Mona Vale baths. These structures form an abstracted shape foundation. Within these shapes, I built up imagery of modern Mona Vale photographed from many perspectives and times of the day, creating a unique contemporary representation of the suburb. Reflecting on Mona Vale's past that, which informs the present and focuses on how it intertwines all the best parts of coastal life. Its unpretentious beachside culture feels isolated or separate from the broader Sydney hustle and bustle within Australia's natural landscape.

Artist bio

Australian artist Gus Eagleton creates interpretations of reality and beauty within the urban landscape.With a selected colour palette and fluid lines, he manipulates light and shadow in an unrealistic and romantic way. He paints with considered velocity and magnetism, yet simultaneously the pieces embody slowness, a dreamlike feel. Gus explores the diversity and intrigue of the characters he encounters and, as a true romantic, indulges in the beauty and charisma of the people he paints. He is compelled and influenced by the environment around him – the problematic high-rise development in the city, gentrification in the suburbs, the fascinating abandoned industrial areas on the outskirts of town; these spaces are his subject matter and his canvas.

guseagleton.com

@instaguss