Nick's practice utilises the attributes of a diverse range of materials and processes such as wood and stone carving, textiles, casting, oil painting and video to make visual puns or play on words. Nick's work is inspired by an ongoing interest in the cusp of human understanding and the unknown, lurching between flagrant nihilism and awe and wonder in all orders of magnitude, all throughout the universe.
Nick Breedon has exhibited in Australia and abroad including solo exhibitions 'A Lot of Luck' at Bus Projects (Melbourne), 'Feelings at West Space (Melbourne) and Firstdraft (Sydney), Sierpinski Mountain, TCB (Melbourne); and pyrotechnic installation 'Let's Get Metaphysical', commissioned for the 2012 Splendour in the Grass festival; and group shows Onside at Casula Powerhouse, Sydney; Winter Wren in La Grande, Oregon, and Rooftop Transmissions as part of Melbourne Now. Completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (honours) at Victorian College of the Arts in 2010, Nick has since been a recipient of several travelling fellowships and grants. Nick has undertaken artist in residence programs with the Australian Tapestry Workshop, Signal Fire in rural Oregon, USA; and Torquay Secondary School.
Monotone Rainbow
Nick Breedon's Test Sites project ‘Monotone Rainbow’ was a research into the feasibility of a large scale public art project – specifically, projecting a hologram-like video in the Yarra River.
Nick's Monotone Rainbow concept is a large scale, black and white rainbow visible from Birrarung Marr, Princes Bridge and the Capital City Trail. The illusion is achieved by creating a fine mist which acts as a projection screen, projected onto by a high definition projector in a secure scaffolding tower located on the river bank. Monotone Rainbow is a work that is only visible at night.
Rigorous research into the feasibility and method of production for Monotone Rainbow was the focus of Nick's Test Sites project. Contacting and negotiating quotes with a variety of contractors, as well as production and AV companies was a large part of Nick's Test Sites process. Nick also documented the site in detail, then created a series of images and video of the proposed work using a series of plug-ins and special effects on After Effects and Photoshop.
Working with City of Melbourne for guidance in project management, Nick compiled a comprehensive document including production requirements; site map, a detailed itinerary and a seven-page budget. Monotone Rainbow is a large scale project and Test Sites allowed Nick to spend time and energy researching all aspects of the project’s viability and production.