Jordy at Work up a Ladder on his Phone
Karl de Waal
- Sitter: Jordan Azcune
- Medium: Acrylic on Board
- Dimensions: 120cm x 120cm
- Representation: This artist represents themselves
About the artwork
Artists and colleagues Karl de Waal and Jordan Azcune were installing art together at work one day when de Waal caught Azcune doing exactly what this portrait depicts – perched high on a ladder, fully absorbed in his phone.
“Jordy loves his phone, joined at the hip it seems… Jordan is such a kind, thoughtful, considerate, humorous, gentle and clever man. His art practice is an extension of all he embodies and questions. Jordan’s enthusiasm and spirited ways keeps my outlook on life youthful and current.”
Azcune stands at the top of the ladder, gaze fixed on the screen, with a second ladder standing silently beside him. Waal wanted to explore the grey area between what we see and what we know, and the subtle nuances that shape our perception.
“I just loved the interplay between the ladders and the spaces created, both physically and conceptually… One empty and one with Jordy creates a beautiful sense of absence and presence.”
About the artist
Brisbane based artist Karl de Waal is a sculptor who has recently added painting to his practice. He completed a Bachelor of Fine Art at UNSW College of Fine Arts in 1992 and has twice been selected as a finalist for the Wynne Prize. His work explores the gap between perception and reality, revealing the fragile connections that shape our identities in a world overwhelmed by constant information.
