Kim Leutwyler
Pronouns (In flux)
Kim Leutwyler is a Sydney based artist, Kim’s paintings portray LGBTQ+ identified and allied people, and toys with concepts such as “glorification, objectification and modification”. Throughout the work Kim pushes and pulls the boundary between realism and abstraction, highlighting the layers and complexity of identity, gender and beauty. Kim has an upcoming exhibition “Queer Corporeality” at the Nanda/Hobbs Gallery in Chippendale.
Interviewed by Gemma Hassal
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Broadly speaking, how did you discover painting?
Ceramics, sculpture, printmaking and textiles have all moonlighted as my favourite medium since high school. The main obstacle I faced after University was that I had very little opportunity to use the facilities required to create new work. Ceramics requires a kiln and wheel at the very minimum, lithography requires a slab of stone or aluminium plate, acid and a giant press! When I found myself in search of an accessible creative outlet, I turned to drawing and painting with my flatmate in our living room. I fell in love with the medium and returned to University at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I've been dedicated solely to painting ever since.
How has your practice and subject matter changed from the beginning of your career compared to recent years?
I am constantly exploring the boundary between realism and abstraction to highlight the layers and complexity of identity and place. My love of incorporating strong colour and patterns started with studying the Pre-Raphaelites, and grew with studying Kehinde Wiley. I was fascinated with textiles and patterns employed by the Pre-Raphaelites to contemplate moral issues of justice, beauty, piety and the struggle against corruption. When I began painting queer people in front of their favourite patterns, I was quickly introduced to the work of Kehinde Wiley, who is best known for his realistically rendered portraits of heroic figures depicted in front of decorative patterns of various cultures. Upon realising there was another artist exploring similar juxtapositions I looked to history for further inspiration. I was drawn to the paintings of Tenebrists like Caravaggio who worked on black gesso, painting only where the light hits a person or object. I began to incorporate bright patterned backgrounds with tenebrism, blending abstraction and pattern where the subjects’ shadows should be. This has evolved slowly over the years, and now the abstract colours and brushstrokes throughout my work reflect the taste and personality of my subject.
“T. Chick McCLure”
Your work offers such a colourful and open portrayal of gender and queer identity, what do you hope to give your audience through this?
Throughout the work I push and pull the boundary between realism and abstraction, highlighting the layers and complexity of Queer identity, gender and beauty. In western historical art, and especially in portraiture, Queer people have largely been left out altogether. I enjoy using historical norms of portraiture to upend heterosexual norms of identity and sexuality in order to destabilise the traditional male gaze.
You recently hosted a conversation to celebrate National Coming Out Day, and remain an active voice in the LGBTQIA+ community, what are some moments of queer joy that you’ve experienced over the past year, and how important do you think it is to see these reflected in art?
I experience queer joy constantly, but one interaction in particular comes to mind from this past year. I was giving an artist talk at the Art Gallery of NSW and was approached afterwards by a young person in their teens. They asked if we could step away out of earshot of their mother. They shared that they are trans and have known for many years, but have been afraid to tell family and friends. They said that felt confident to come out after hearing my talk and seeing how positively their mum reacted to my portrait of Courtney Act/Shane Jenek in and out of drag. I offered for them to reach out if they needed any support or advice and reassured them that there is a beautiful community out there ready to embrace them and be their family either way. Later, their mum approached me and spoke so kindly of my representation of the queer community and it gave me hope that their coming out journey would go well. I hope it did!
“Rhi”
“Faustina the Fuzz”
You have an upcoming exhibition “Queer Corporeality” in December, tell us a bit about that?
I can’t wait for this exhibition to open! These works deconstruct gender-based power dynamics of ‘the gaze’, creating space for plural identities and possibilities, and pointing to the body as a topography of Queer life experiences. Bodies in this series tell intimate stories of affirming surgeries, survival, gender euphoria and self-determination. All are welcome at the opening party at Nanda/Hobbs Gallery in Chippendale, 1st December from 6-8pm. The exhibit will be up until 17 Dec, and I’ll also be hosting a nude tour and life drawing class at the gallery.
You were a finalist in this year’s Archibald and Sulman Prize as well as the Portia Geach Memorial Award, what kind of feelings come with these monumental achievements?
Being showcased in these Prizes is always a fun time, and I appreciate the ability to showcase my work in major art institutions. I’ve been a finalist in the Archibald six times, the Portia Geach seven times and the Sulman Prize twice. Each year my feelings about the experience are completely different. As a first-time finalist I was absolutely terrified to be exhibiting with some of Australia’s best artists (major imposter syndrome), and now I am happy to call them dear friends. I also used to put a lot of pressure on myself to ‘get in’ and now I’ve realised it’s much more important to focus on making work you believe in and less pressure on what you think the judges want to see.
“G & T”
If you could offer young queer artists any advice, both in life and art, what’s something you wish you could have heard starting out?
Put your work out there and take some big risks. Try something new and don't let yourself be restricted by your medium. Surround yourself with creative and smart people whom you trust and ask them to provide open and honest feedback about your creative pursuits. Stay focused on your dreams and keep an ear to the ground for exciting opportunities, they will come in time.
“Start the Riot”