Sean Irving interviews Lee Harnden during the build-up to ‘Catharsis‘. Melbourne, look lively…
For the past two decades Lee Harnden has been a respected figure in the Australian graffiti community, pushing boundaries stylistically with his pieces and signature characters. But alongside his graffiti practice Lee is also an accomplished oil painter, rendering brutally honest portraits that showcase his talent as a fine artist. We caught some time with Lee before the opening of his latest solo show ‘Catharsis’ to talk about the divide between graffiti and the gallery, and how he found his identity as an artist.
Hey Lee, how’d you get started in art?
Like a lot of kids I began in pre-school throwing paint over big sheets of butcher paper, drawing and painting guns and tanks, and I guess it just snowballed from way back then.
Your work is strongly figurative, where do you find your subject matter?
Currently I’m painting a series of portraits of people that have come into my life and had some impact on me in some way shape or form. This is important for me as sure I could paint a lot more famous people but I don’t have a connection with them, no story, but when I do a portrait of my homie JAKE BIZ who in my eyes is a gentleman and a scholar and a down right good mate that has more purpose! I’m essentially taking people from my surrounding and hanging them in gallery because they might not be rich or famous but in my eyes they are worth a portrait and to be shown to the world.
Click here for the full interview.
More info: LeeHarnden.com