the man in the studio!
ANGEL WITHOUT a CAUSE
ARTIST’S BIOGRAPHY Russell J Lilford
In 1975, Russell an 11-year-old boy, accompanied by his father Raymond H Lilford (sculptor artist), journeyed by train from Melbourne to Mildura to see the 6th Mildura Sculpture Exhibition (Arts Victoria). This experience was to plant a seed that was not to take root until 9 years later when Russell took up figurative drawing whilst unemployed. The following year Russell enrolled in Victoria College’s Prahran campus in the Tertiary Orientation Program Foundation Year of Art and Design. Here he grafted himself to the idea of finding true freedom of expression through visual art. It also gave him the fundamentals of contemporary art practice, after which he went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art at RMIT in the late1980s. This was a further step in what he refers to as “an amazing journey that continues to unfold.” He then graduated in 1998 with a Master of Fine Arts from Northern Territory University (NTU) and this gave his art a greater degree of sophistication in drawing, painting in acrylic and printmaking in relief woodcuts
Russell also has an incredibly rich experience in performance art; this includes performances in the early 90s influenced by the European Dadaist movement that enabled him to critique the art establishment, to later performances in Darwin. He has been involved with art festivals and shows at Charles Darwin University, exhibiting and performing at most of the major Darwin art galleries including 24Hour Art, NTCCA, and DVAA. Russell has performed with Dadang Christano, Alwyn Ramilo and many other established artists during his time in the Northern Territory. For him a highlight was a performance titled ‘Blood of a Nation’ in which he explored the colonial treatment of our first people through to current treatments of refugees and indigenous people.
An artist is never just the sum total of their work and this is certainly the case for Russell. Despite his extensive academic career Russell has enjoyed a variety of roles within the indigenous community. He worked as cook and caterer with the Jurrawun painters from the East Kimberley (Paddy Bedford, Rusty Peters, Freddie Timms, Phylis Thomas Goodie Baret and Peggy Patrick) and shared a house with this mob of painters in Darwin while they were working at Northern Territory University. This allowed for some exchange of cultural understanding and ideas behind their work and Russell counts this as one of the highlights of his career. Another highlight at this time was having a photo of his performance art piece on the front page of the Northern Territory News. Russell has also worked with the Neminuwarlin Aboriginal Dance Group as cook and production assistant. In 2006 he worked as art coordinator for the Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation; the Larrakia are the indigenous people of Darwin. He established Larrakia Nation Arts (LNA) Printmaking Studio in 2007. He also worked on a number of large public art projects with the Larrakia people including Lyons LNAC art, urban development project and Tiger Brennan Public Art Project (2010).
During his three years with LNAC, Russell curated many exhibitions, including: CIA (Contemporary Indigenous Art); How Black is My Country; Raw
Printing Power and he managed the yearly exhibition booth at the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair. Russell developed and coordinated the Arts in the Long Grass Project and curated two associated exhibitions: Breaking the Stigma Arts in the Long Grass and Culture Connecting Communities. He was also a supervisor of the Ten Swags project in 2009-2010.
In November 2010, he returned to Victoria with his wife and 2 children because of family reasons and now resides in Warragul.
2011 kicked off a new chapter of his art adventure with an exhibition, Wood, Fire and Rain at a duel show with his father Raymond at Meeniyan Art Gallery. He followed this up with a series of solo and group shows at West Gippsland Arts Centre (WGAC) and various venues around Warragul.
Over the past nine years in West Gippsland, Russell has been consistent in his art practice, being part of the open studio collective for the past seven years as well as being a Warragul Arts Market stallholder. Russell has remained community minded, embarking on collaborative works with well known and respected local artists Sue Acheson and Bec Vandyke to create the #Toomanywords project, which now resides in the West Gippsland Arts Centre council rooms. He has also curated and participated in significant group shows such, Dyslexic Warriors at WGAC 2015. Abstract Moments dual show With Sue Acheson at Station Gallery in Yarragon. He continues to be a regular participant in Baw Baw Art Alliance exhibitions. Russell also works as a carer for disadvantaged people for DC Man Cave teaching cooking and art with well-accomplished artist Jessie Mclennan. Russell and Jessie help clients to develop art skills and contribute to collaborative work to put into community Art shows.
