Local Artist…Harrison Murdoch from Bondi

By James Hutton on April 21, 2020 in People

Looking fresh before lockdown. Photo: Lucy Boden

Introducing Bondi’s Harrison Murdoch, a talented young artist and the mastermind of this month’s cover illustration…

How long have you lived here? I moved up from Melbourne when I was 8, so 13 years now.
Why do you live here? I have travelled throughout Europe and other parts of the world and this little pocket of the globe is hard to beat.
What’s your favourite eatery? I definitely cannot go past Ichiban Boshi’s chicken karaage ramen. So succulent.
Where do you like to have a drink? Locally, I would have to say The Royal, Bondi Hotel or Beach Road Hotel. The Royal used to be my favourite but has definitely changed a lot in the past year.
Best thing about the Eastern Suburbs? Without question it’s the beaches, especially Mackenzies Bay.
The worst thing about the Eastern Suburbs? There are too many people these days and way too many surfers!
Can you describe your art? I’d describe it as funky and fun. I take care in clean line work and love playing around with vibrant colouring. I try to express a certain playfulness in my work that my audience can interact with.
Where can people see your work? I’m on Instagram at @harrymurdickart. I’m in the process of building a website, which will be another platform people can view my art through. I’m also super keen to get into painting more murals and putting my art on larger spaces.
Who are your artistic inspirations? My artistic inspirations would be Keith Haring, Picasso, Reg Mombassa, Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat. There are many more but those artists have definitely inspired me to make art.
What are you working on at the moment? I’ve been focusing on trying to make as much art as I can, as often as possible, to develop my style. I’ve been putting my art on pants and sneakers and I’m keen to explore putting my art on more apparel. I’m also interested in animation, so I’ve got some animation projects in the works too. I would really love to be a part of more collaborative projects with other like-minded artists.
Do you have any exhibitions coming up? Not right now, of course. RAW Artists Australia reached out to me last year and exhibited some of my work, which was a great experience. I’m looking forward to being a part of more shows. I would also love to do a solo show some time in the future.
When did you discover you had a gift for your craft? I have really loved drawing ever since I can remember. I feel drawing has been more or less the only consistent thing in my life since I was a little kid that I never get over. If anything it only gets more exciting.
Any other up-and-coming local artists to look out for? My mate Dash O’Brien-Georgeson (@dash_og) is super talented and has some great content. He has both a design and art account. He’s one to look out for.
Where are you studying? I’m in my second year of a Bachelor of Fine Arts at The National Art School, Darlinghurst.
Any words of wisdom for young aspiring artists? That’s a tough question for a 21-year-old to answer, but I would say follow your passion and work hard to develop your own unique style.
What music are you into at the moment? Benee, Groove Armada and The Brungas, an up-and-coming Melbourne band. I’m also loving The Cure, The Smiths and Mazzy Star.
Who is your favourite person? I am very fortunate to have a lot of really great people in my life, but Mum has to take the cake. Love you Mum xoxo.
What do you do for work? I work in after school care, as well as at Ravesis. Due to the coronavirus I’m currently out of work, as many of us are. I am really passionate about art and would love to travel the world, meeting and working with other creative people. The idea of producing great work and connecting with other creatives motivates me to work hard and strive to make my mark in the art and design world.
What do you get up to on the weekends? I’ve been making art as much as possible, seeing friends and hanging with my girlfriend, Lucy. I love spending time in the uni library and taking inspiration from the diverse range of artists who came before me. I enjoy keeping up to date with other artists that I follow on social media, trying to gain as much knowledge and inspiration as I can. I love skateboarding, surfing, Jiu-Jitsu, podcasts and keeping healthy.
Do you have a favourite quote? My favourite quote is from Chris McCandless, who Into the Wild was based on. He wrote in his journal after eating deadly berries in the wilderness of Alaska, after being away from society and human contact for months, “Happiness is only real when shared.” This quote, among others from his journal, is very powerful given the circumstances he was in. Christopher’s body was later found, along with his journal, in an abandoned school bus. If you haven’t already seen this film I highly recommend you do.
Any other words of wisdom for readers of The Beast? Call your mother!

High quality prints of this edition’s cover image are now available to purchase. They will be available in A3 and A2 sizes and will come signed by the artist for $99 and $199 respectively. To place your order, email james@thebeast.com.au.