P C Dyson is a graphic designer, visual artist and novelist living in the village of Malmsbury. With an extensive background in graphic design and publishing, Dyson’s current art practice is deeply rooted in a long-held fascination with typography, coupled with a keen interest in the English language and its nuances. This is evident in his latest exhibition of works, Wisdom, Wit + Whimsy, at The Old Auction House gallery, Mollison Street, Kyneton (June 26 to July 21).
In this new series, Dyson presents the portraits of a diverse range of characters from various creative and intellectual pursuits, and juxtaposes a quote from each. The quotes convey wit, wisdom, or whimsical charm, and may provide an insight into each character’s personality, while resonating with Dyson’s own sense of humour or irony.
Dyson challenges the viewer with a panoply of image and textual fusion. Absence of traditional word spacing transforms the text into a patterned conundrum, testing the viewer’s perception and inviting extended contemplation of the work.
This constant quest to provide visual and cognitive challenges for his audience underpins the philosophy of Dyson’s art practice and raison d’être in general.
