Not fit for human consumption

Get ready to smash it up and touch it. The Laneway Artspace presents not fit for human consumption, a tactile art show by Dan Plasto … where all the rules of engagement will be broken. In the dark.

‘Hi there. My name is Dan and I paint shit. I paint on all sorts of recycled surfaces, odd bits and off-cuts of wood/furniture, canvas, skateboards, glass, tree branches, rocks and thick blocks of polystyrene.

I obtain all my surfaces from op shops, garage sales and hard rubbish! I use a multitude of mediums, (water-based, oil, water-based enamel, acrylic, enamel) house paints, spray paint, artist’s acrylic (very rarely), textile ink, ink, porcelain paint, nail polish, marker refill, tile paint, laminate paint, glass paint, glycob, liquid acrylic, metal paint, automotive paint, wood decking stain and anything else I find.

I have a few different styles and techniques, depending on the resources – paints and surfaces – I have lying around at the time. I never use mediums, resin, flow or varnishes. I just use paint. I always paint wet on wet; working with the chemical reactions of such a diverse range of mediums. I use gravity as well as the density of various mediums that enhances the chemical reaction, and my paintings still morph and change up to and over a week because of this, also creating a variety of textures over the drying period.

I channel my soul and emotions through music, movement and paint. When I paint, I completely lose myself and get into a trance-like state, where nothing else exists and time stops. I stop thinking and just do. It all comes from somewhere within. I have complete freedom and I do not follow any rules or etiquette. I paint for the sake of the activity, there is no endgame.

I have painted for 12 years, 10 of which I have painted in the “dark”, and I have only shown my work for the last two years because it was my Mum’s last wish.