Zoë Sydney is an artist and physicist, you might recognise her from Snart Club – a science-art club that did a workshop at our 2019 event Moonboorli (Beyond) and her DIY clay making video we posted for Youth Week WA 2020. Most recently, Zoë’s painting Fifteen (2020), a portrait of her younger brother’s birthday was a finalist in The Lester Prize for Portraiture. We chatted to her about who she is and what she does, what science and art means to her, and her painting for The Lester Prize for Portraiture. 

Who are you, what do you and why do you do it? 

Hi, my name is Zoë Sydney and I’m an artist and a physicist. I’m currently studying a Bachelor of Philosophy at UWA majoring in Physics and Fine Art. In my spare time I co-run a science-art club called ‘Snart Club’ (go check us out on Instagram!). To me both physics and art feel like trying to piece things together until everything clicks. I love being able to do both, even when it makes for a bit of a heavy workload.  

In your own words, how would you describe your work? 

I am just starting out as an artist so I have been trying everything I can in regards to my work. Recently I have been working in painting (both oil and acrylic) and textile works. I want to make work that grabs people’s attention and makes them stay with it and want to learn more. 

How did you get into visual arts and in particular painting? 

I have always loved art from a very young age and I got more into painting ever since high school. It is very satisfying to be able to create something from scratch and I love the relaxing feeling of sinking into a painting. 

Are you influenced by any particular art movements, artists, art styles etc.? 

I am very interested right now in art about the body, especially by other women and queer people. I love the works of Rebecca Horn and I was lucky enough to see some of her works at the Tate last year. She makes these amazing wearable pieces of art that surround the wearer. That is how I want my paintings to feel. 

How do you learn and improve? 

The secret to improving is just to keep doing something! I did a course where we had to produce one large painting about every two weeks. Everybody was up all night painting, but at the end of it I felt like it really forced me to refine things and stop wasting time in my art practice. People have asked me how I paint so fast and it really is just from trying to get my homework done!

Tell us about your entry for The Lester Prize for Portraiture 2020.

My entry for the Lester Prize is a portrait of my little brother on his fifteenth birthday. His birthday was in April this year while we were under lockdown. At fifteen, we all felt the murky uncertainty of the future. This year has felt like this even more strongly. The photo that I took of the moment seemed to capture that feeling and I knew I had to make it into a painting!

I also painted it while we were in lockdown. My usual process involves working from a photograph, starting with an acrylic underpainting, and finishing with oils.

How has your creative process changed since the pandemic? 

I think Covid allowed me to focus on art without other distractions. I did a lot of painting as a way to stay connected with others, and it really made me think about what was important. It also encouraged me to reuse materials I already had to avoid going out to the shops. I did a lot of painting on old, recycled canvases and exploring making work with other unusual materials. 

Follow Zoë’s emerging work as an artist and physicist at her website, Instagram and Snart Club. Her painting ‘Fifteen’ (2020) is on display at The Lester Prize Exhibition which is running until the end of this week, click here to view locations and times.

INTERVIEW BY: YOSHIKA KON.