A born

By Casey Neill
UPWEY’S Noah Symons unveiled his first solo art show with a musical performance at Burrinja Café Gallery.
“They kind of go hand in hand for me,” he said.
“It’s nice to be able to perform as well as have an exhibition of visual works.”
The 26-year-old created the 21 works on display over the past four years while studying for his Fine Art degree at RMIT University.
There is a mix of paintings, drawings and studies, including a self portrait and plant studies from the hills and botanical gardens.
“I’m interested in portraiture and people, so there’s portraits of different friends and people around me,” he said.
“Basically, the work is influenced by people and surroundings.”
Symons moved to the hills six years ago.
“It’s had a big impact, having the peaceful environment and the freedom to create in an area that’s not busy,” he said.
Burrinja visual arts co-ordinator Tilla Buden saw Symons’ art at his workplace, Belgrave’s Earthly Pleasures Organic Café, and invited him to exhibit.
“Noah has a lovely, loose drawing technique that invites your eye to meander through his imagination and experience,” she said.
Symons first picked up the pencil at age 3.
“And I’ve been drawing since, basically,” he said.
“My mum is an art teacher and she’s always encouraged me to pursue making art.”
His brother took up guitar when Symons was 15.
“I was always tapping things and drumming so it was a natural kind of thing to pick up drums and jam with him,” he said.
Symons played with several different bands before developing his own project, Great Earthquake, three years ago.
“Which is just me with five instruments and a loop device, which enables me to layer and record and build up and take away these five different instruments,” he said.
Not many musicians take the technique into a live setting.
“It’s kind of atmospheric and there is some melodic elements,” Symons said.
“It can be quite dreamy or soundscape-y, but I’m interested in jazz drumming and quite upbeat kind of music as well.”
“There’s lots of different things that influence the music, and it can be a soft mellow song to a fast rhythmic, beats-y kind of tribal thing.”
Two of his major music influences are Melbourne instrumental act Dirty Three and Mice Parade percussionist Adam Pierce.
Pierce also often performs solo with multiple instruments.
“So I guess that’s kind of inspired me to be able to do what I’m doing,” Symons said.
He admires the work of many Melbourne and international artists, including Van Gogh’s painting style.
“I like expressing emotion through colours,” he said.
But drawing is Symons’ “main thing”.
“It’s the immediacy of capturing, whether it be a person or a tree, and trying to capture a certain mood or feeling through line,” he said.
“Sometimes it’s like a therapy.”
Noah Symons’ Paintings, Drawings and Studies 2005-2009 is on display at Burrinja Gallery Café, 351 Glenfern Road, Upwey until 28 February.