'My recent works explore the concepts and methodologies of tronie or ‘character-head’ painting, a genre of painting that originated in the Netherlands during the 1630s. The term tronie is derived from Old Dutch and simply means ‘head’, ‘face’ or ‘facial expression’. A tronie is a typically half-length or bust-sized depiction of a non-specific individual, with compositional emphasis on the head or facial expression of the figure. Importantly the tronie is not a portrait of a particular individual but more an archetype of a human being. The most iconic example from the tronie genre is Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring (c.1665).
My tronies are intentionally stylised and based on found and collected imagery. Painting tronies allows me to explore figurative painting beyond identity in conventional portraiture.'
India Mark is a figurative painter based in Thirroul, New South Wales. Influenced by traditional genre painting, portraiture and still life, Mark’s work attempts to fuse together aesthetics from visual cultures, past and present.
Mark studied at the Australian National University School of Art where she was awarded the Foundation for Visual Arts Scholarship. She recently completed a Master of Fine Art on tronie painting at the National Art School in Darlinghurst, Sydney.
Mark was a finalist in the Archibald Prize for 2016 and the prestigious Brett Whiteley Traveling Art Scholarship for 2017 administered by the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
India Mark is a figurative painter based in Thirroul. Influenced by traditional genre painting, portraiture and still life, Mark’s work attempts to fuse together aesthetics from visual cultures, past and present.
From 2012 – 2013 Mark studied at the ANU School of Art where she was awarded the Foundation for Visual Arts Scholarship. She is currently completing a Master of Fine Arts at the National Art School (NAS). In 2015, two of her paintings were acquired by the NAS archival collection. India Mark was a finalist in the 2017 Brett Whiteley Traveling Art Scholarship and the 2016 Archibald Prize.
India Mark
Born 1993
Lives and works Thirroul
EDUCATION
Current
- Master of Fine Arts (Painting), National Art School, Sydney, NSW
2015
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting), NATIONAL ART SCHOOL, Sydney, NSW Bachelor of Visual Arts
2013
- (Painting), ANU School Of Art, Canberra, ACT
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2014
- ‘Beaus and Buoys’, NG Gallery, Sydney, NSW
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2016
- ‘Locals Lonely’, The Egg & Dart, Thirroul, NSW
2015
- ‘Inhabiting Place’, Inhabiting Space, Gaffa, Sydney, NSW
- The National Art School Graduate Exhibition, NAS Gallery, Sydney, NSW
- The Egg & Dart Xmas Show, The Egg & Dart, Thirroul, NSW
- ‘Kicks’, Black Gold Gallery, Thirroul, NSW
- ‘You My Friend Are Beautiful And Terrifying’, Ng Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2014
- The Egg & Dart Christmas Show, The Egg & Dart, Thirroul, NSW
- ‘Art Now’, Ng Gallery, Sydney, NSW
- The Chippendale New World Art Prize, Ng Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2013
- ‘Friday On My Wall’, ANU School Of Art, Canberra, Act
GRANTS & AWARDS
2018
- Finalist, Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of NSW
2017
- Finalist, Brett Whiteley Traveling Art Scholarship, Art Gallery of NSW
2016
- Finalist, The Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of NSW
2014
- Highly Commended, The Chippendale New World Art Prize, NG Gallery,
2012
- Foundation For Visual Arts Scholarship, ANU School Of Art, Canberra, NSW
PUBLICATIONS
2016
- Zephyr Magazine (Issue 6)
COLLECTIONS
The National Art School Archival Collection, Sydney, NSW
