A life creating…
Mervyn Hannan was born in Melbourne, 1954. He grew up among artists’ and writers at the Montsalvat Artists’ Colony in Eltham, Victoria.
A natural artist, Mervyn has travelled much of his adult life making art. From 1977 – 1982 he travelled across Europe, Asia, Africa and the United Stated absorbing the arts, music and cultures of new places. From 1977 – 1982 he worked at the Montreux Jazz Festival Switzerland as stage hand with some of the worlds leading jazz musicians.
Much of his sculptural work has an ephemeral dimension. Works have been made in bush or unexpected locations and left to return to their natural environment. His work includes obscure placement of stones juxtaposed with found bush debris and often, with the inclusion of a made object found on the location to give an ‘out of context’ dimension to the work. Many of the works have not been recorded, due to the permeance of otherwise ephemeral pieces.
His visual arts works are made using multi-media processes from traditional paint on canvas, drawing, pastel painting, carving construction and clay modelling.
A founding member of the ‘Ice-Breakers’ band, he plays the drums and percussion.
His work is held in private collection internationally and throughout Australia and remnants of ephemeral pieces can be found unusual locations throughout the world.
2010 Perspectives of Montsalvat & Other Places (1st solo)
2008 Nillumbik Art Awards – Montsalvat
2007 Nillumbik Art Awards – Montsalvat
2007 Gateway Galleries Group Shows (3)
2005 Desert Sharing – Montsalvat Eltham
2004 Nillumbik Shire Council – foyer exhibition
2004 International Group Show – Ulaanbaatar – Mongolia
2004 Open Studio – invite participation – Nillumbik Shire, Eltham
2003 Commission – Nillumbik Shire Ephemeral Sculpture Kings Winery
2003 Open Studio – invite participation – Nillumbik Shire, Eltham
2003 Open Studio – invite participation – Nillumbik Shire, Eltham
2002 Open Studio – invite participation – Nillumbik Shire, Eltham
2001 Gallery Hurstbridge – exhibition Hebel Block sculpture
2001 Open Studio – Nillumbik Festival of the Arts (March)
2001 Federation Traveling National Post Card exhibition
2000 Bulleen Art & Garden – Sculpture
2000 Open Studio – Nillumbik Shire/Eltham – sculpture
2000 Open Studio – Nillumbik Festival of the Arts (March)
1999 Open Studio – Nillumbik Shire/Eltham – sculpture & Painting
1998 Liza Taylor Sculpture Gallery – Mt. Macedonm Vic.
1998 Open Studio – Nillumbik Shire/Eltham
1997 Open Studio –Nillumbik Shire/ Eltham
1997 Open Studio – Nillumbik Shire/Eltham
1997 Shed – Horsham Regional Gallery
1996 Open Studio –Nillumbik Shire/Eltham
1965 Eltham Art Prize
1963 Herald Sun Art Show (Recommendation)
2010 Leader Newspaper Nov 3 p 33 Feature & exhibition
2004 Nillumbik News – Bacchus
2003 Diamond Valley News – Bacchus Sculpture
2001 Diamond Valley News – Open Studio
2000 Nillumbik News
2000 The Age – Open Studio
1997 Diamond Valley News – Fiona Kaegi
1995 Wimmera Times – The Shed
2003 Nillumbik Commission -Bacchus– Kings Winery Kangaroo
1996 Shoalhaven River, Stick Installation – Bundanon, NSW
1990 – 94 Cottage Blinman, Flinders Ranges, SA
1996 Renmark Garden Construction, SA
1996 Murray River Bank construction, SA
1983 – 84 Timber Carvings – Tabulum, NSW
1980 Sand sculpture – Belize
1971 – 72 Stone Carvings, Montsalvat Eltham Victoria
2010 Ulaanbaatar & countryside Mongolia
1989 – 1994 Parachilna, SA
2003 Founding member Jazz band The Ice-Breakers
2010 Studio class Montsalvat