André de Vanny

This work will be on show at Carriageworks from 3-6 September as part of Curatorial+Co.'s Sydney Contemporary 2026 presentation.

André de Vanny explores the tension between the abject and the sublime, drawing on the ethereal qualities of early Renaissance painting and the visual language of contemporary abstraction. His practice is deeply physical, incorporating cycles of disintegration and repair that reflect the human experiences of trauma, resilience, and healing.

Says de Vanny of this work, "'Carnevale' evolved over the course of two years as I built up countless layers of pigment, transforming twelve-ounce unprimed cotton canvas into a dense, hide-like surface. This textured ground, embedded with deep earth tones and the marks of time, became a fertile stage for the unfolding drama. Figures were established through loose, bold passages of acrylic before layers of oil brought further depth and complexity to the scene.

"Drawing on the visual language of Trecento painting, 'Carnevale' explores the fallout of human greed, excess and debauchery, where celebration gives way to violence, revealing a social order shaped by power and exclusion. Shadowy figures, masks and gestures of possession blur distinctions between sacred narrative and contemporary experience. Luminous colours leap forward with the exuberance of carnival while darker undercurrents play out behind. Suspended between celebration and aftermath, 'Carnevale' occupies the fragile boundary between ritual, entertainment and brutality."