Personality through portraits in its most eclectic form

By Nicola Ceccato

Mar 27, 2024

On display: Tank is getting ready to showcase his artwork this week at Shepparton bar Shingo’s. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Shepparton artist Tank has done it again.

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But this time, it’s a rather eclectic series of works set to debut this week as part of a new exhibition, in a new location.

The exhibition Heads Up depicts a series of heads made up of various objects, each capturing a unique personality.

On Thursday, March 28, Tank will be debuting his exhibition, a total of 60 artworks, at Shingo’s Bar, a place that Tank said seemed like a fitting environment for his style of work.

All about the creativity: Shingo Fujimoto is showcasing Tank’s latest exhibition at his Shepparton bar, starting on Thursday, March 28. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

“I couldn’t have picked a better venue than Shingo’s with this eclectic mix of work and this place — I’m really loving that it fits,” Tank said.

The art includes a series of small artworks Tank has been working on for three years. It was something that started as a bit of fun, but has now formed into a collection of work.

“I just started producing artworks around the idea of different people, their professions, their likes and interests in head form,” Tank said.

“A lot of them started out as ideas for their own surrealist artworks.”

For Tank, the next step is expanding on his current work and opening up the opportunity for the public to request specific head-themed artwork.

“Someone could say ‘my dad’s a baker so he’ll like a baker head or a bread head’,” Tank said.

“So any ideas I get from people wanting requests for them will only add to the collection.

“They’re affordable, it’s at its best, it’s simplistic, but it’s surreal at the same time, and it’s accessible to everybody — I wanted that broad spectrum.

“I love the way it’s crazy but fun.”

And the best part is that there is no ‘head art’ idea that’s too crazy, Tank said.

“One of the artworks I’ve got is Kurt Cobain crossed with the piranha plant out of the Mario Bros game from the 80s,” he said.

“That’s how mixed it could be.

“You might want to mash up these two or three things together into this personality of a portrait of someone — I can do that.”

Works well: Tank’s artwork is well paired with the surrounds of Shingo’s bar. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

There is no website for requests currently, but Tank is encouraging the public to come along to the exhibition launch on Thursday evening to see if the style of art is for them and to put their requests in.

The exhibition debut is an open invitation. It will run from 6pm to 8pm on Thursday, March 28 at Shingo’s Bar on Corio St, Shepparton.

Cocktails, speciality drinks from bar owner Shingo Fujimoto, and nibbles will be available at the event.

The exhibition will be on at Shingo’s for the next two weeks.