Ryan Dunshea

Born 1975, Sydney
Bachelor of Visual Arts
Graduation show: 1996
Graduation ceremony: 1997

Artwork in Space YZ

Blemish, 1996 
Photography 
Dimensions variable 

Ryan Dunshea completed his Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts) at UWS from 1994-1996 and Bachelor of Fine Arts (Hons) at College of Fine Arts, UNSW in 1997. In the years following graduation Ryan held three solo exhibitions in Sydney: Cantus at Room 35 in 1999, Trace at Object Galleries as part of the Sydney Paralympic Arts Festival in 2000 and Acquiesce at Newcontemporaries Gallery in 2003. He has also participated in several group exhibitions in Australia, the UK, Italy, Canada and the US.

In his professional life, Ryan has helped build and manage several brands, most notably a 13-year tenure with professional services organisation KPMG, as UK Brand Manager based out of London, UK and as Global Brand Manager for KPMG International based out of Toronto, Canada. In addition to his fine arts degrees, Ryan is also an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK. Currently, Ryan is Head of Client Services for Sydney-based brand strategy agency, BrandMatters.

See more from Ryan Dunshea on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Visual diary, 6 April 1996

I have a Celtic body. This body has been taken from its place of evolution and positioned where is should not be. This skin burns after 10 mins in 30-degree heat. I don’t leave the house without sunscreen. I want to map the effects of this climate on a body, a climate in which it can only partially adapt. Most directly, the adaption of my skin – blemishes and freckles, darker and lighter patches of skin.

Skin scattered everywhere. Like heat maps contour maps, aerial maps, its own landscape. Always slightly sunburnt.

I want to immerse the viewer in the body, wherever they look they can’t escape it. Immersed in my skin, immersed in my freckles and wrinkles. My blemished body. Maybe “Blemish” would be a good title.