ABOUT BRETT
Brett Moffatt (b. 1973) is a multi-disciplinary artist who works in painting, photography, filmmaking and drawing. In Moffatt’s art, Hollywood’s glitz and glamour merge with its mysterious underbelly. His enigmatic storytelling delves into voyeuristic themes, exploring the lives of female stars and the hidden truths lurking behind the facade of fame. His work stirs nostalgia for Hollywood’s heyday yet hints at something sinister brewing beneath its charm—a subtle nod to the darker side of glamour. Through Moffatt’s evocative imagery and haunting narratives, you’re invited to ponder the complexities of celebrity culture and the allure of beauty laced with shadows. Welcome to a world where nostalgia meets the uncanny, and glamour is tinged with a sense of unease.
Moffatt’s process is similar to a production designer’s. He carefully produces the mise en scene of his compositions, often assisted by constructing models and maquettes and using life models and costumes to help him achieve dramatic effects. He also adopts the formal and styling techniques of filmmakers, particularly those of film noir.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Behind the Glamour: Exploring the Hidden Truths
In my artistic journey, I’m fascinated by Hollywood’s glamorous, sexy, and romantic dreaminess. I explore how these elements captivate and seduce with their sensual appeal while concealing deeper truths beneath the surface. Within Hollywood’s glittering facade, stars are elevated to mythical proportions, yet they remain tethered to the same human flaws and vulnerabilities as the rest of us. This paradox fuels a voyeuristic fascination with their private lives, a desire to peek behind the curtain of glamour and uncover the hidden truths beneath. My art explores this dichotomy.
Nostalgia is a powerful force, beckoning us to believe in the dream and immerse ourselves in the fantasy of Hollywood’s golden age. We yearn for the past when stars seemed larger than life and dreams felt within reach. But as we cling to these illusions, we risk losing sight of the reality beneath—the human struggles, hidden desires, and untold stories that shape the lives of those we idolise.
Inspired by Hollywood’s golden years, my experiences as a make-up artist and the cinematic aesthetics of film noir, I work across multiple mediums, including oil painting, watercolour, photography, drawing, and filmmaking. Each piece explores the interplay of light and shadow, creating a mise-en-scène that evokes a sense of mystery and intrigue. I utilise life models, actresses, costumes, and maquettes to develop studies and work. Authentic vintage clothing is sourced to dress the models, and photo shoots are staged to achieve specific emotional, artistic and aesthetic aims. The final works are then painstakingly composed and created. Artworks can take months or years to complete. I aim to achieve dramatic effects, capturing unique and often voyeuristic perspectives that offer glimpses into the secret lives of stars while nodding to the darker side of glamour.
I express a captivating fusion of mystery and allure through my art, which both indulges and provokes suspicion about the illusion of the ideals of beauty, wealth, and fame. I draw inspiration from cinematic aesthetics and cultural symbols, inviting viewers to re-evaluate their perceptions of these concepts. My aim is to encourage people to confront the reality of our shared desires in the shadow of Hollywood’s allure.
– Brett Moffatt
The true things rarely get into circulation.
Marilyn Monroe
It’s usually the false things.
It’s hard to know where to start
If you don’t start with the truth.
MY STORY
I was born and grew up in the rural community of the Fassifern Valley in southeast Queensland. I enjoyed an idyllic country childhood, however, had little exposure to culture growing up where I did.
As a child, I was inclined to observe. I observed people, nature, and anything. I was naturally curious and transcribed my experiences through drawing and journaling. I also had a passionate interest in the arts, in all forms, from various genres of music to movies and theatre. I was most drawn to and still revere the ’20s and ’30s jazz age, Années folles, the golden age of Hollywood, Film Noir, and the Great American Songbook
After high school, I studied painting for a bachelor’s in fine arts degree at Griffith University, then at the old Seven Hills College, at Morningside, Brisbane. I also studied make-up and special effects artistry at night and freelance between classes, at night, and on weekends. I enjoyed working as a make-up artist backstage or onset. It was fun, exciting and creative, and I got to work with companies of talented people.
Consequently, the trust I developed with models, actresses, and dancers allowed me to photograph, paint and draw them.
The theatre, with its dramatic storytelling, intricate mise-en-scène, and the interplay of light and shadow, became the crucible in which my fascination for storytelling was kindled. It was here that I learned to appreciate the subtle nuances of human expression, the complexities of desire, and the profound moments of connection.
Working behind the scenes, I witnessed the magic of the stage, where actors and artists alike breathed life into stories that resonated deeply with the human experience. However, the exhibitionism of the stage, with its grandeur and the artifice of personas, stood in stark contrast to the vulnerability, fragility, and authenticity of the performers’ inner lives.
As I transitioned from the world of entertainment to that of the visual arts, I carried with me a deep curiosity and desire to explore the delicate interplay between outer appearances and the hidden depths of human existence. My art seeks to peel back the layers of veneer that we present to the world, inviting viewers to contemplate the complexities and contradictions that reside within each of us.
Artistic influences such as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Edgar Degas, John Sloan, Martin Lewis and Edward Hopper reinforced the dramatic and often hedonistic world of bohemian city life and its romantic ideals. For the last 30+ years, it’s been a privilege to continue this artistic journey, dedicating my work to a new era of urban exploration and urban romanticism as a living, evolving tradition and building upon these artists’ legacy while exploring the complexities of glamour and the vulnerabilities hidden beneath.
My artistic practice is an exploration of the duality of the human experience—the performative aspects that we project to the world and the profound, often fragile emotions that we keep hidden within. It is a testament to the power of art to shed light on the intricacies of our shared existence, where mystery, desire, and moral ambiguity converge.
I am driven by an unyielding dedication to continue exploring these ideas, to delve deeper into the contrast between what is seen and what is felt, and to invite viewers to join me on this journey of introspection and revelation. The exhibitionism of the stage may dazzle, but it is the authenticity of the inner life that truly intrigues and excites me as an artist.
I am guided by the belief that art has the power to bridge the gap between the external and the internal, offering a window into the profound depths of the human spirit.
– Brett Moffatt
All the world’s a stage,
William Shakespeare, As You Like It
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances