Kate Banazi: Silk Screen Artist, Illustrator & Designer
WhoLocatedSydneyProfessionSilk Screen Artist, Illustrator and Designer
This week, we sat down with silkscreen artist Kate Banazi to chat over a cup of organic Aryuvedic Tea. Concentrating on the art of silk screen printing, Kate has worked in fashion, music, illustration and advertising where she has applied her multidisciplinary practice of exploring light, colour and graphic motifs. Kate’s work is experimental, intuitive and often playful with bold colour and linear elements as key references. Currently, her silkscreen work focuses on celebrating relationships, identity, movement, shadows and colour, shown through interlocking shapes held together lightly but ready to fall apart. Her art explores the concept of negative space and line work map chaos, voids and then beauty - all to present a realistic reflection of everyday life in all its unpredictable glory.
Could you tell us about your favourite solo exhibition and what made it special to you?
The most recent exhibition I attended - Nick Cave at Carriageworks. It was thoughtful, all-encompassing and resonated with me on many levels.
Were you always interested in silk screening or are there other mediums of art that have interested you?
My father shared his studio with a silkscreen printer, so the smell of printers has stuck with me from a young age. I love many studio forms of art and imaging-making, from moving image and sculpture through to painting. Process and learning is important to me and piques my interest.
What was your favourite collaboration and what made it so special?
I have collaborated with a few people and have enjoyed them all equally for the different perspectives and lessons that they have taught me. Being able to collaborate with someone and see their creative process in printing is a great joy.
Can you tell us about your favourite piece of art in your home that brings you the most joy?
My favourite piece is an articulated cat my son made at tertiary school. I love it so much that its lost a leg! It’s so fragile and yet it has travelled around the world with me.
Do you have any exciting projects coming up?
Yes, a solo show in June. And a few prints that may or may not come to fruition. Soon I am showing at Milan Design Week with a textile collaboration with Joanna Fowles. We'll be showing with Australian design platform Local Design curated by Emma Elizabeth.
What draws you to exploring and embracing the flaws in silk screening as opposed to retouching them like in the facsimile process?
I want people to see my hand in the process, to see the difference between digital and analogue, and to understand that “perfect” is dull to me. I make prints that are realistic.
If you could collaborate with any brand or person in the world who/what would it be?
There's a few photographers, fashion designers, musicians and artists I'd love to collaborate with - no one person over another but all creating interesting work and strong aesthetics.
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Each week, The Organic Tea Project is sitting down with Australian creatives to learn more about their craft, inspirations, collaborations and upcoming projects. Be sure to check back next week for another profile, best enjoyed with a cuppa.
