“I’m moving to Brisbane to be an artist”, a wide eyed, anxious and hopeful eighteen year old Shani said in November 2012. They had been drawing since they could hold a crayon, growing up with parents that supported creativity and a grandmother that painted her entire life, Shani had always proudly claimed they would be an artist when they grew up. With two suitcases, a folder of sketches, and big city dreams on the horizon, Shani flew into QLD’s capital city for the first time in January 2013; ready to take on a 3 year Fine Arts course at QCA. Twelve years later; their Woolloongabba studio is packed to the brim with artworks, and Shani is ready to pack up once again and take on a new adventure. Melbourne. Another queer bites the dust.
Shani Finch is a multidisciplinary visual artist, predominantly focused on self portraiture and the female form. Their childhood was spent in solitude making art, in a baby pink bedroom next to their siblings bedroom in complimentary baby blue- Shani uses these colours as the base palette for their works, exploring their relationship to gender. As a proud neurodivergent artist and university dropout- Shani stubbornly paved a path for themselves in the Brisbane arts community; becoming a ‘Jack of all Trades’ and has a prolific portfolio to showcase in many mediums, ranging from illustration, paintings, graphic digital design, sculptural works, murals, photography and performance.
This June, the Project Space will be utilised to showcase, archive and sell Shani’s impressive collection of works. The collection of works are not themed as such but rather encompass the artist's journey through the trappings of modern life. An identity crisis, if you will, not an art show, one doesn't aim to create a particular story but instead invites the viewer to immerse themselves in Shani Finch’s universe of divine diversity.
Open every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday in June.
