MARK OGGE

Ogge’s paintings contain characters emblematic of the human condition, from the vanquishing St. George and eremitic St Anthony to the frivolous and terrifying quality of the fairground laughing clown. Add to this cast the image of a young boy – perhaps the artist – and together these scenes merge to present the manifold workings of the mind; the search to find a form of resolve to internal conflicts and moral dilemmas.

Somewhat like a series of nightmares (or are they just unsettling dreams) Ogge sends us ploughing through some of the more complex, darker corners of the psyche. The Florentine painter Paolo Uccello explored these same psychological spheres some 500 years ago, depicting powerful scenes of greed, battle and redemption. Within a modern context of entertainment and showmanship Ogge is similarly generating stories illustrating loneliness, regret and morality.

While the artist is tackling some pretty big themes here he is also aware of the fun such subjects offer. ”It’s also a great opportunity to paint monsters, and let the imagination run wild a bit! I guess my devils and monsters have a bit of a shonky fairground shock about them!”

Mark Ogge’s works are represented in a range of national and international collections including the BHP Collection and Luna Park. His work has been shown in a range of group exhibitions, including the Melbourne Arts Centre’s ‘Silverlined’ and the City Museum’s ‘Playtime’. His most recent public art commission can be seen as part of Melbourne’s Luna Park Scenic Railway.