The approach to reality

Alexia Sinclair describes her perfectionism as semi ‘clinical’.

Growing up in her family’s restaurant, The Old Courthouse, in the Hunter Valley, the award-winning Australian photographer spent a large part of adolescence in what was once a prison kitchen, meticulously coordinating the various components of each culinary creation.

“I quickly developed a knack for ensuring every dish was spot on. Serving and getting an immediate response from your clients makes you strive to become better and better.”

Her weekend post also paid for both her degrees: a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Hons) and a Master of Fine Arts.

“To kick things off, my parents took [my younger brother and me] to Europe when I was 14 with the idea that since we were opening a European restaurant, we should really get a feel for the culture.”

Customs and history are of great significance to the Sinclair family. Alexia’s father is a historian and her brother has just finished his honours degree in ancient history.

“My parents waited 10 years before they had me so once I came along they really put their heart and soul into me. There was lots of storytelling and fantasy – I’ve always been an artist that works with a narrative.”

Alexia recalls, as a 19-year-old arts student, drawing inspiration from the Shakespearean heroine, Ophelia. She began analysing the way painters would express symbols of her death in their work.

“When I started working in that way, it all became easier. Coming up with ideas and developing them became natural to me. Ever since then I’ve been a storyteller with my work.”

She also attributes her dance background as insight for the theatrics of her art.

“I did ballet from age four to 16 and even my character, jazz and hip hop feeds into my art making.”

The influence of seasonal concerts, dressing up in costumes and becoming a particular character within each theatrical performance can be seen in her work today. The majority of the sets, costumes and design are also collated by Alexia.

The Regal Twelve is a series that combines hundreds of photographic elements and illustrations to form complex digitally montaged artworks.

“I won a travelling scholarship that I took in the first year of my masters. I went all around Europe shooting buildings to produce a digital Escheresque landscape. During my travels, I went to various chateaus and heard stories of these amazing women – that’s when I started thinking about a high fashion historical series.”

Alexia returned to Australia to photograph models and props in the studio and, like pieces from a jigsaw puzzle, she meticulously stitched together each element, along with a myriad of delicious symbols and motifs relating to each monarch.

The series portrays twelve European monarchs who have ruled supreme and whose lives span over two millennia. Through the study of history and portraiture, a series of contrasting regal works formed, whose stories are revealed within each artwork.

This year Alexia will produce her Kings Series titled The Royal Dozen, which is booked to exhibit at the Australia Centre for Photography in November.

www.alexiasinclair.com