Artist Talk // TC Overson | Before Colour

Join BRAG Foyer Artist TC Overson for an Artist Talk on exhibition Before Colour.

Saturday 22 February, 11am
FREE, all welcome, RSVP essential

About the Exhibition

"In 2023, I completed an art residency at the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum (AFMM) in Bathurst. This body of work is my grateful response to that transformative experience.

Rather than replicating the remarkable specimens of the Somerville Collection, I was drawn to their essence—their age, character, and the stories embedded within their forms. Initially, I sketched and painted close-up, microscopic views of these pieces, exploring their intricate colours and lines. Each visit to the museum deepened my fascination with the vibrant hues and variety of the specimens. This led me to wonder: when was colour first seen?

Many of the fossils in the collection come from a time before eyes evolved—before there were cells capable of perceiving light. Colour, as we know it, requires light, atmosphere, and the ability to see. When did this interplay of light and vision first occur on our ever-changing, life-filled planet?

To complement my predominantly monochromatic works, I’ve incorporated specimens on loan from the AFMM. Their bursts of natural colour contrast with my subdued palette, reminding us that for most of Earth’s history, the beauty of minerals and fossils existed unseen. It’s only in recent times that humans have valued these materials—yet, as we marvel at their splendour, we also consume them, carving tunnels and caverns into the underworld to extract the remnants of deep time.

My hybrid practice blends drawing and sculpture, using diverse materials to explore the interconnectedness of matter across time. Self-imposed boundaries guide my process; I work with natural and everyday substances such as charcoal, plaster, rust, gesso, mineral pigments, and even breakfast staples like eggs and tea. These choices echo the constraints of natural processes, while my techniques aim to reduce the visible hand of the artist, letting the materials speak for themselves.

Chance is my clever collaborator, reshaping my materials and methods, much like the unpredictable forces that have shaped our planet. By embracing this process, I feel connected to the cycles of time and the unknowable realities of matter.

Before Colour reflects on these mysteries of Earth’s deep past—exploring the origins of colour, the evolution of vision, and our complex relationship with the natural world."

Image: TC Overson, Geode 1 (detail). Photo by Kevin Spencer.