Dimensions of Perception | Two- and Three-Dimensional Explorations of Human Character by John Mandich & Jean-Paul Zilliacus

WHEN | 24 July to 18 August
EXHIBTION SOIREE | Sunday 18 August, 2 - 4 pm
Live music by Nick Haywood Trio

Born in Croatia, John Mandich migrated to Australia with his family in 1967. A predominantly self-taught artist, he has been painting and sculpting for over 50 years. Encouraged by his friend Julian Centofanti, he began submitting portraits to the Archibald Prize in 2000 and has done so annually for the past 24 years, with fourteen of his works selected for the Victorian Salon des Refusés (Hidden Faces). This exhibition, showcasing all his Archibald entries with accompanying stories, features many famous faces linked to the Evelyn Hotel, where John has worked for over 20 years, in the suburb of Fitzroy.

John has a simple but strict artistic philosophy behind his portrait painting — “it’s easy to duplicate someone’s face, but doing so doesn’t get the sitter’s personality”, and, as a result, “it’s pointless doing a portrait of someone you don’t know”.  

Jean-Paul Zilliacus, born in 1968 in Sydney, is an artist, humanist, and Montsalvat resident who brings life to clay, capturing the flawed beauty of the human form. With a background in classical ballet, his understanding of the body enhances his sculpting. A transformative year in Europe inspired him to create art that integrates with and enhances culture. His work, characterised by fluidity and movement, spans bronzes, plasters, and cements, reminiscent of David Bromley’s style. Embracing a childlike wonderment, Jean-Paul's creations reflect his deep love for humanity. A passionate humanist and protege of Montsalvat’s Matcham Skipper, he embodies the community’s creative spirit and advocates for kindness and indulgence in life’s pleasures.