About Trefor
Trefor Prest was born in South Wales in 1945. He attended Croydon College of Art in1960,
was expelled in 1961 and migrated to Australia. He had an undistinguished two year military career
as a tank driver in the Australian Army from 1966-68. He studied sculpture at the
National Gallery Art School, Melbourne from 1971-1973. During that time he also gained a welding
qualification from RMIT and a single arts subject, Modern European History, at LaTrobe University,
Melbourne. From 1974-75 he did graduate studies in sculpture at the Victorian College of the Arts.
In 1982 he moved to Strangways in Central Victoria where he built a large studio overlooking the
Jim Crow Creek where he lives with his wife
Belinda. He is not a prolific artist, and has accepted few commissions, preferring instead to follow his own enquiries, producing mainly small, personal pieces.
He has exhibited widely since 1972, participating in numerous group exhibitions in Australia and overseas.
The Visit
What do you say, or even can "say" about art that is not about the word? I could say that there is something in Trefor's work that reminds me of Hieronymous Bosch, but that is just saying that the feeling I get when I look at a Bosch is similar to what I get looking at certain of Trefor's works. Others may not see that. I can see references to carcasses, insects, Japanese Kabuki, Dali, cartoons, whatever. It means very little to drone on like a wine buff indulging yourself with your own erudition and broad knowledge of western culture. In the end art is about what you feel, not what you know, it's visceral, not intellectual, so words are useless, as are critics, because they'll just tell you what they feel, not what you'll feel.
Just look at the images, and even these do not capture the feeling, as they are limited to two dimensions, and the sculptures have moving parts so that you can change the aspect. And then there is touch. The feel of the works is wonderful.
What is beyond dispute, however, is the mastery of materials, the sheer craftsmanship in moving an idea to concrete completion via wood, fabric,brass, copper, hair, steel aluminium,etc.
And then there is the humour, the sinister hints....but we are getting back to words which are inadequate. Just go and have a look, and if it grabs you, buy it and take it home, like I did.
I'll even let you use the name Mr Firsk, so long as you pay cash up front.