John Anthony Forno is an Australian Interdisciplinary artist whose work draws from childhood memories through the vehicles of play and nostalgia. These memories are bridges between past and present driving an ongoing inquiry into the relationship between play and its effects on self-esteem. John references a range of disciplines and ideas including psychology, gestalt theory and 80s and 90s popular culture. Whilst not defined by any particular medium, he frequently employs readymade materials and found objects reminiscent of my youth. Through a process of play and self-discovery he recontextualises materials and theoretical research to form visual motifs, ritual acts and symbols synonymous with childhood and adolescence.
John completed a Bachelors of Digital Media (Fine Art) with Honours at Queensland College of Art. He has exhibited at Gold Coast City Gallery, The Walls Artspace, Jugglers Artspace, The Field Ari, the White Box Gallery and Sculptures in the Gaol. He has been the recipient of the NAVA Ignition Award, Pat Corrigan Award for Academic Excellence, Pat Corrigan Award for Best Portfolio. He has won the Surfers Paradise Mural Festival, had numerous artworks acquired in private collections and completion of several public artwork projects.
Get to know more about John here
2020 SWELL ARTWORK – Totem / The Fragile 2020, John Anthony Forno
There’s resilience and strength in the art of Origami a practice I remember fondly from my childhood. As creases and folds strengthen tightly woven wooden fibres there’s always an undercurrent of the fragile as a result of the medium. This sculpture is a response to moving and static imagery that infiltrated my social media feeds of the 2019/2020 bushfire season, a year on as we move to the 2020/2021 season I hope this sculpture is a stark reminder of our roll in climate change and the consequences of not acting.
SWELL Kids Artist Statement
Come and see for yourself at SWELL Sculpture Festival, Pacific Parade, Currumbin 11-20 September.