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Welcome! to the official website of Stephen Troy Allen’s Black & White Psyart. Finally, after many months of planning, and indeed many years of pursuing a creative dream, www.stephentroyallen.com.au has become a reality. This website marks my first foray into promoting my psyart professionally; and whether you have arrived here out of curiosity; obligation; a curious obligation; a random click or two; as a means of repaying karmic debts, or as a means of incurring them; or simply as a result of having developed an appreciation for my art - I extend to you a most heartfelt welcome. I certainly appreciate your interest, and invite you to sign my guestbook, and perhaps even leave a comment. A proposal is currently being drafted to exhibit my work in a Melbourne inner-city gallery, complete with an invite only opening night, psytrance DJs and ultra-violet light installations - so a record of an email address will certainly help with facilitating these type of events.

I also have a Facebook fan page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephen-Troy-Allens-Black-White-Psyart/50334933809

Thank you for supporting my art.

Maitreya Festival 2009 6-9 March

I recently had the opportunity to exhibit my 6 x 2.10 metre installation of ‘The Pelt of Pythagoras’ Muse’ at the Maitreya Festival. The Maitreya Festival, which is promoted as a ‘4 day art, music & culture explosion’ is currently in its third year, and was held at the Wakiti Creek Resort, Yambuna (3 hours from Melbourne, approaching the Murray River). With a focus on creativity, the promoters were offering the incentive of a $10,000 art prize for the most interesting work exhibited. The competition was billed as a ‘no boundaries intergalactic art prize,’ so there was every likelihood of the Orion Federation entering one of their mother-ships. The lure of a potential $10,000 prize is unquestionable, yet, as an emerging artist, the opportunity to exhibit at a festival is invaluable. Given that the installation of ‘The Pelt of Pythagoras’ Muse’ had been completed 6 weeks earlier for The Rainbow Serpent Festival, I was in an advantageous position to exhibit, and enter Maitreya’s competition. Indeed, I had completed the required work, endured and overcome the various production difficulties, and emerged with my sanity mostly intact - which was insane, really! Thus, my preparation for Maitreya could not have been less stressful. Unlike the Rainbow Serpent experience, which was less than ideal for exhibiting, and primarily focused around a market dynamic (in which I was also selling art prints), Maitreya offered the experienced which I truly sought. I was able to present ‘The Pelt of Pythagoras’ Muse’ in an open marquee. This was a significant improvement (it had been enclosed within the marquee at Rainbow Serpent), and enabled the installation to be viewed and appreciated from variable distances. Interestingly, and somewhat disappointingly, many who had also attended Rainbow Serpent, were actually seeing my art for the first time. It was the perfect opportunity for exhibiting such a large scale piece. The result was a definitive experience in my artistic career.

The Maitreya Festival was indeed special. Most who experienced it, regard it as one of the better festivals of recent years. It almost did not happen, with an unexpected cancellation of the Wakiti Creek location a day before, followed by many an hour of uncertainty, and then finally an eleventh hour confirmation - and much rejoicing. Those who attended helped generate a sublime vibe, a unique sense of connectivity and a general serenity that is rare at such large scale events. I had the privileged opportunity to meet with numerous people, many offering gushing words of appreciation, admiration, encouragement and support. At times, I anonymously positioned myself amongst groups of those appreciating my work, only to listen intently, seeing my work anew with each comment and observation. It was immensely satisfying, and I am appreciative of all those who contributed to my Maitreya experience. Each in their own way, with their unique words and perspectives, have generously provided me with insights and feedback (many, which I have recorded) that shall motivate and inspire my future works. I explained the sense of completion that I experienced as such: My work starts with the initial inspiration, and then the tedious prolonged application, and finally, the complete visual creation emerges (but not quite complete). Much energy is invested, and many hours have passed in focused concentration and isolation. Yet, it is only through presenting my art as a visual experience to others, who in turn provide me with their impression, that I actually experience my art - and the work is truly complete.

Thank you to you all, for you have enriched me.

The organizers of the Maitreya Festival Art Competition have yet to announce a winner. I shall update this post when the winner is confirmed. 

The following information featured on a sign that accompanied my Maitreya Festival  installation:

THE PELT OF PYTHAGORAS’ MUSE

artist: Stephen Troy Allen

‘The Pelt of Pythagoras’ Muse’ was originally drawn over 320 hours with a 0.1 fine ink pen at a scale of 100 cm x 71 cm. This installation features the enlarged vinyl reproductions of original artwork (black ink on white paper) displayed beside a flipped negative. I have spent a couple of years evolving a style that explores the perceptual and cognitive effects of intricate black designs on white, and vice versa. The sprawling techno-tribal imagery has the desired effect of engaging the imagination, and stimulating the viewer to search and decode meaning from the patterned code. The longer one spends engaged with the piece, the more the amorphous texture reveals itself. What is initially perceived as a visual chaos - with patience and imagination - soon reveals all manner of creatures, entities and oddities. Interestingly, when viewed from a distance, the black on white piece appears as a  galaxy with various constellations. The overall perceptual experience may be likened to the subconscious exploration of a hyper-Rorschach (ink-blot therapy) image. The viewer brings themselves to the piece, and a synthesis of subjective mind and image occurs.

I have also ambitiously tried to capture the essence of Psytrance in a static, yet kinetic visual expression. I liken the mathematical construction of Psytrance to a ‘calculated chaos’, and like this element of Psytrance, I believe my work evinces that very same oxymoronic ‘calculated chaos.’

The Meaning of the title 

Pythagoras of Samos (Greece, 6th century BC) believed that everything in the Universe could be related to numbers, and was a mathematician, philosopher and a mystic who provided us with his ‘Pythagoras’ Theorem’. A 'pelt' is basically the outstretched skin/fur of an animal (sometimes with the head and tail still attached). I am assuming that his Muse would be some hyperdimensional hypermathematical etherial being that might just have a skin akin to my artwork - especially when stretched out (and the image does look like an outstretched pelt.) I suppose it is like a trophy - for it is some sort of otherworldly "skin." Oh, Pythagoras' Muse died of natural causes, and this was the only way (at the time) that they were able to preserve the Muse in some form. I thought of the title after I had finished the artwork. It seems appropriate.