A conversation with time

No. 6/14 from the series 'Thoughts from Afar.'

"The face of time smiled down at me, when I looked puzzled by the clock hands. He seemed to say that it was a lover’s dream, to keep time at bay. But I was not in love, nor I think had I ever been.

The face of time, paused at three, to let me know for sure. He said that I should always just be, nothing less, nothing more."

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THOUGHTS FROM AFAR - AN ARTIST"S JOURNEY THROUGH A GLOBAL PANDEMIC

This series tells the story of my journey as an artist living through a global pandemic. The resultant ‘giant pause’ was an almost surreal event that spurred in me a catalytic stream of creative energy and inward reflection. Dictated by thought and feeling, the ideas streamed through from afar, plucked from the unconscious realms in the process of trying to make sense of a world in which the perceived norm was suddenly thrown out the window. Replaced by a world of mass media hysteria, conspiracy theorists and panicked humans in survival mode, I pondered over what the flipside of normal would be.

As the situation evolves over the coming months and years, it is my hope that these paintings will cause a little pause in each of us. One that will make space for us to stop, reflect and process how this event has shaped and continues to shape our lives as we face our own mortality.

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Jem Ham is a self-taught artist based in Fremantle, Western Australia. Born in Melbourne in 1981, Jem’s interest in art began at age four, when he became fascinated by the temporary marks left behind when painting with water onto brick walls. This experience sparked a lifelong curiosity about bringing something to life from within, fuelling a passionate need to create. Since then, his practice has been a journey of self-discovery, and his distinctive style naturally emerged from this exploration.

His current practice draws on surrealist automatism and biomorphic abstraction to create works where the real and imaginary fuse together in a world of their own. Working primarily with pencils, acrylics, and oils on canvas and paper, Jem’s process often begins with automatic drawing that evolves into detailed, rendered compositions. His work reflects an ongoing interest in identity, self-transformation, and the workings of the mind.

Relocating to Fremantle in 2012 marked a pivotal moment in Jem’s life and creative journey. Freed from the familiar ties of Melbourne, he gained the space and clarity that allowed his artistic style to fully emerge. During this period, he committed to his practice with greater focus and professionalism. Since then, his work has been shown in solo and group exhibitions across Australia and is held in private collections. He has received recognition through numerous awards and prizes, including Best Painting at the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Art Prize (2021), the Westfield People’s Choice Award at the City of Stirling Art Awards (2019), and the Boynes Artist Award Monthly Winner (2024), and has been a finalist in the Waverley Art Prize and Kennedy Prize, among others. His work has also been featured in various online and print publications.