In the lead up to Ralf’s Strathmore exhibition, 'Recognising Melbourne', we asked him some questions in relation to his creativity, inspiration and depiction of Melbourne’s streetscapes.
Can you tell us a bit out the process of creating your artistic style – both on canvas and outdoor artwork, including panels and public murals.
Paintings are all created using stencils. I use my own photographs, historical photographs or a combination of the two as my source images. After some digital processing of the image I hand cut the stencil, mostly into acetate, and use spray paint, brushes and rollers to execute the work. The stencil is used to create multiples but in numerous variations of size, colour and composition. The process is an amalgamation of photography, print-making and painting.
The public art screen installations are technically a building sized version of a stencil cut into aluminium sheets. Generally, a combination of historical and contemporary imagery and always specific to the actual site.
'Recognising Melbourne' reflects on imagery which depicts different aspects of Melbourne. What has drawn you to this subject matter, particularly for this exhibition?
I like to create images that evoke a sense of recognition in the viewer. Streetscapes that are familiar to us from our own city of Melbourne, but slightly altered through colour composition and perspective. Apart from recognizing a particular street corner or building, the viewer often brings their own story or memory attached to this place or location. I supply the image, you supply the story. I like to emphasize the structure of the image through the patterns inherent in the architecture, trees and shadows.