Contemporary & Performance Artist

The terms of painter and performance artist can be ascribed to Milanda de Mont in the same breath. As an international artist based in Sydney, Australia and Mainz, Germany, de Mont works in the directions of abstraction and painting performance. She has successfully held major exhibitions and has collaborated with professional artists, dancers, and musicians. Her lifelong artistic career is a fusion of her world travels, integrating her vivid background with a contemporary aesthetic that truly embraces a global perspective.

Her painting performances are interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary in nature. The intercultural collaboration of her performances is a deliberate artistic decision. With painting as the core of her work, performance and live installation of movements have been steadily integrated. Its unique concept has developed over the past decades. In this, she unites a fusion of three visual art forms; live music, dancer and her art, before an audience. While de Mont’s performance capture a key part of her creative process, her paintings are the reflection and outcome of her creative synergies.

De Mont’s influences run deep. From Armenian origin and Persian born into a celebrated artistic family whose dynasty includes musicians, painter, poet, writer, and artisans. As a result of family travels, exposures to the art and cultures of the East and West began in childhood. Encouraged for her passion and artistic expression, she was taught Oil painting at a tender age by her first art tutor, a French-Armenian Impressionist from Paris. She attended Classical Dance and was trained in Persian Miniature and Calligraphy by the Pupil of Behzad famous Persian Miniaturist. Early beginnings in that remain central to her art. Further, her family migrated to Sydney in 1970. She pursued her education and academic degrees in Australia and America . In her student years, the Renaissance, European Modernists, German and American Abstract Expressionists were a source of inspiration. However, while her work could remain suggestive of these influences, de Mont has deliberately struck out in her own direction, synthesizing her rich cultural roots with her own distinctive style, expressed with sensitivity and confidence. Producing a body of work known as performance paintings in addition to her extensive oeuvre encompassing small to large sized canvases of contemporary art, drawings, and experimenting with wide range of media and invented techniques. She has lived and worked as graphic designer and illustrator for major advertising agencies in Sydney and Los Angeles. She has taught for many years at the Arts & Media Sector of TAFE (Technical & Further Education) NSW in Sydney, while maintaining her fine arts practice.

Winner of the Goethe-Institut Scholarship Awards from Munich in 1995 and 2001, associated with renowned German artists, Europe’s “Kunstakademie Düsseldorf”, and Prof. Christian Megert; Member of the Group Zero Movement. 2001 invited artist by the Director of Culture in Japan, presented artist at the Official Mayoral Civic Reception Ceremony, represented Australia in a cultural exchange, staged painting performances in Tokyo, received a glowing review in the Yomiuri Shimbun Japan’s highest circulation newspaper. 2001 one of only 15 artists selected from across the world by the Goethe-Institut to present her works at the International Symposium in Berlin and Weimar. Also, 2001 Winner of The Elcom Open Award, Central Coast Arts Festival. 2002 and 2003 invited guest artist by the Australian Ballet Patrons Programme. 2000 and 2004 invited for Major solos by the Gosford Regional Gallery. Also in 2004, Artist in Residence in Yerevan, Armenia. 2005, collaborative exhibition with German artists at the Leichlingen Buerger Haus. 2006, invited by The National Gallery of Armenia, staged Major solo exhibition of abstracts and performance painting, also collaborated with Armenia’s well know Ashoogh Jivan Ensemble. 2007, selected Finalist, in the top 6 national multidisciplinary Audi Art Prize, at the Museum of Contemporary Arts in Sydney.

De Mont’s paintings are in the collections in major Capital cities in Australia, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, London, Stuttgart, Essen, Düsseldorf, Budingen, Amsterdam, Barbados, New Zealand, and Japan.

Gallery Representations:
   
Harris Courtin Gallery, Paddington, Sydney, Australia.
Horus & Deloris Contemporary Art Space, Pyrmont, Sydney, Australia.
Gosford Regional Art Gallery, Central Coast, NSW, Australia.
Atta Galerie worldwide, Kiel, Germany.
Bredeney Gallery, Essen, Germany.
National Gallery of Armenia, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia.
Tatevos Arakyan Gallery, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia.
   
Selected Solo Exhibitions
   
2007 Harris Courtin Gallery, Paddington, Sydney, Australia.
2007 Horus & Deloris Gallery, Pyrmont, Sydney, Australia
2006 Major Solo, invited artist by National Gallery Of Armenia, Yerevan,
Republic of Armenia.
2006 Bredeney Gallery, with Michael Siewert, & Georg Weber, Essen, Germany.
2005 Harris Courtin Gallery, Paddington, Sydney, Australia.
2004 Major solo “Circling a Trail, a Cultural Journey” Gosford Regional Art Gallery, Australia.
2004 “Von Natur Aus” with Herbert Siemandel-Feldmann and Georg Weber,
Leichlingen Buerger Haus, Leichlingen, Germany.
2004 “Von Natur Aus” with Herbert Siemandel-Feldmann and Georg Weber,
Bredeney Gallery, Essen Germany.
2004 Harris Courtin Gallery, Paddington, Sydney, Australia.
2003 “From Body To Energy”, Australian Ballet Patrons Program,
in association with the Hong Merchant of Australia Gallery Sydney, Australia.
2002 Harris Courtin Gallery, Paddington, Sydney, Australia.
2002 Invited guest artist, Australian Ballet Patrons Programme, Sydney, Australia.
2001 The Cancer Care Centre, Nepean Hospital Arts for Health Program,
Sydney, Australia.
2001 “Rising of the Sun” Edogawa Sogo Bunka Centre, Tokyo, Japan.
2000 “Figure Dynamics” Libby Edwards Galleries, Sydney, Australia.
2000 Major Solo “Fantasia & Dynamism” Gosford Regional Art Gallery, Australia.
1998 “Australian Landscape” with Herbert Siemandel-Feldmann,
Bredeney Gallery, Essen, Germany.
1997 “Feature Artist” Gosford City Art Centre, East Gosford, Australia.
   
Selected Group Exhibitions
   
2008  Invited well known artists, Government project “Sense of Place”,
Gosford Regional Gallery, Australia.
2008  Harris Courtin Gallery, Gallery 2, Paddington, Sydney, Australia.
2007  Finalist, in the top 6, national multidisciplinary Audi Art Prize,
Museum of Contemporary Arts, (MCA), Sydney, Australia.
2007 Harris Courtin Gallery, Paddington, Sydney, Australia.
2007 Selected artist, International Women’s Day, Multi Arts Confederation Central Coast
2006  Tatevos Arakyan Gallery: Collaboration with Armenian, French, Italian and Japanese artists, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia.
2006  Harris Courtin Gallery, Gallery 2, Paddington, Sydney, Australia.
2006 Finalist, Gosford City Art Prize, Gosford Regional Art Gallery, Australia.
2006 Invited artist, 31st Central Coast Festival of Arts, Australia.
2006 Finalist, Gosford City Art Prize, Gosford Regional Art Gallery, Australia.
2005 Finalist, Gosford City Art Prize, Gosford Regional Art Gallery, Australia.
2005 Harris Courtin Gallery, Paddington, Sydney, Australia.
2004 Invited Australian artist, 29th Central Coast Festival of Arts, Australia.
2004 Harris Courtin Gallery, Paddington, Sydney, Australia.
2003 Invited artists “a look at laughter”, Greg James Gallery, Fremantle, Western Australia.
2003 Harris Courtin Gallery, Paddington, Sydney, Australia.
2003 Invited Australian artists, the 28th Central Coast Festival of Arts, Australia.
2003 Finalist, Gosford City Art Prize, selected finalists group, Gosford Regional Art Gallery.
2002 Harris Courtin Gallery, Paddington, Sydney, Australia.
2002 6 European artists, Galerie Bredeney, Essen, Germany.
2002 Invited Australian artists, the 27th Central Coast Festival of Arts, Australia.
2001 International Artists Symposium, Weimar and Berlin. One of only 15 artists selected from around the world by the “Goethe-Institute Inter Nationes” in Munich, Germany.
2001 Harris Courting Gallery, Paddington, Sydney, Australia.
2001 Winner - 2001 Elcom Open Award and First Prize, the 26th Central Coast Festival of Arts.
2000 The Libby Edwards Galleries, Melbourne, Australia.
2000 The Libby Edwards Galleries, Sydney, Australia.
2000 TAP Gallery, Sydney, Australia.
2000 Invited Australian artists, the 25th Central Coast Festival of Arts, Australia.
1999 Horizon Committee Auction, work presented with Brett Whitely and Elizabeth Durak,
Gallery Link International, (now Gallery at the Wentworth) Sydney, Australia.
1999 Invited Australian artists, the 24th Central Coast Festival of Arts, Australia.
1999 Gosford City Art Exhibition, Gosford Regional Art Gallery, Australia.
1998 Gallery Link international Sydney (now Gallery at the Wentworth), Sydney, Australia.
1997 Gallery Link International, Sydney, Australia.
   
Selected Performance Exhibitions
   
2007 “Flow” painting Performance No. 12
Horus & Deloris Contemporary Art Space, Pyrmont, Sydney, Australia. Painting Performance and Live Installations. Collaborations with Australian Asian Dancer Vanessa Sew Hoy and Violinist Queyen Le. .
2006 “Allegory” Painting Performance No. 11. A Project for the TT Audi Art Prize.
Museum of Contemporary Arts, Sydney. Selected Finalist, national multidisciplinary Audi Art Prize. Collaborations with Australian Asian Dancer Vanessa Sew Hoy and Violinist Queyen Le. 3 part performances forming into a live installation. Painting: 180 cm x 110 cm acrylic on canvas
2006 Painting Performance No. 10.
National Gallery Of Armenia, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia. Collaborations with well known Sayat Nova Ensemble in Armenia, performance to ancient Armenian melodies. Choreography de Mont, Dancer Guyane Agbaryan. Painting: Triptych, each panel: 120 cm x 110 cm, acrylic on canvas .
2003 “From Body to Energy” Painting Performance No. 9.
Hong Merchant of Australia Gallery, Sydney. Presented by the Australian Ballet Patrons Programme in association with the Hong Merchant of Australia . Part 1. Oil sticks on stretched canvas size: 260cm x 160 cm. Music by Arvo Part, Cantus in memory of Benjamin Britten. Part 2. Acrylic, triptych each panel: 110cm x 84cm. Music: The Tao of Cello, improvisations by David Darling, a. Yield and overcome, b. What is firmly grasped cannot slip away. Part. 3. Completion of the dialogue. Cellist Imogene Granwal. Dancer Rochelle Donnelly.
2002 “Artist dream” Painting Performance No. 8
Invited guest artist by the Australian Ballet Patrons Programmed, Sydney, Australia. Dancer Susan Baling. Music by Chopin, Nocturnes Nos. 20 and 21.
2001 “Improvisations” Painting Performance No. 7
International Art Symposium, Goethe-Institute Inter Nationes, Weimar and Berlin. Movements by 13 international artists. music by Robert Lloyd, Australian composer.
2001 “Rising of the sun”, Painting Performance No. 6.
Staged at the Concert Hall, Edogawa Sogo Bunka Centre, Tokyo, Japan. Collaborations with dancers Rochelle Donnelly and Lisa Wildman of the Central Dance Company. Music by Haiku, Japanese composer.
2001 “Improvisations”, Painting Performance No. 5.
Edogawa Sogo Bunka Centre, Tokyo, Japan. Dancer Rochelle Donnelly of The Central Dance Company, Music by Shostakovich.
2000 “ Fantasia & Dynamism”, Painting Performance No. 4.
Gifford Regional Art Gallery, Central Coast NSW, Australia. Collaborations with: Susan Baling former principal dancer, The Sydney Dance Company. Music composed by Candy Lawrence; “Nocturne and Rhapsody” & “ Burlesque’. Performed by: The Central Coast String Quartet.
Painting on 2 canvases, each panel: 45 cm x 200 cm.
2000 “Figure Dynamics”, Painting Performance No. 3
The Libby Edwards Galleries, Sydney, Australia. Collaborations with Dancer Cathie Goss of the Sydney Dance Company. Music by Shostakovich. Painting performance: acrylic on 10 pieces of canvas each: 35 x 45 cm.
1999

“From a Visual dialogue”, Painting Performance No. 2
The TAP Gallery, Sydney, Australia. Collaborations with Dancer Cathie Goss, Sydney Dance Company. Music by Shostakovich. Medium: acrylic on canvas size: 200cm x 200 cm

1996

“Out of Canvas”, Painting Performance No. 1
Johannes Kirsche, Düsseldorf, Germany. Performed with the “Düsseldorf Female Artists”, Action painting, medium: pigment on a stretched canvas size: 200 cm 150 cm.

 

Collections:

   
The New South Wales University, Mathematics Department, Sydney, Australia.
The QBE Insurance Sydney, Australia.
The Elcom Corporate, Central Coast NSW, Australia.
Edogawa Sogo Bunka Centre, Tokyo, Japan.
The Engelthal Monastery, Budingen, Germany.
National Gallery of Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia.

Private collections:
Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth, and The Central Coast.
New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Stuttgart, Essen, Altenstadt, Düsseldorf, London, Amsterdam, Belgium, Barbados, New Zealand and Tokyo.
 
 

Education:

   
1991 Dip Ed. Post Graduate Degree, University of Technology Sydney, Australia.
1978 Diploma Of Fine Arts, Sevier Valley College, Richfield, Utah, USA.
1975 -1977 Studied Diploma Graphic Design, Randwick College, then continued at the Sydney College Of the Arts, Sydney, Australia.
1974 - 1975 Qualifying Art Diploma, National Art School, Sydney, Australia.
1993 - 1996 German Language studies at the Goethe-Institut Inter Nationes, Sydney, Australia and Düsseldorf, Germany.
Received the Primary Education in Iran. Completed Higher School Certificate At the Forest High School, in Sydney, Australia. With “High Distinction” in the Arts, and received Scholarship to Alexander Mackey College.
 
Spoken Languages
   
English, German, Armenian, and Farsi (Persian).
   
First Prizes, Awards, Scholarships, Artist in Residency
   
2007 Finalist, selected in the top 6 National Multidisciplinary Audi Art Prize.
Held at the Museum of Contemporary Arts, Sydney Australia.
Adjudicators: Collette Dinigen, Ignatius Jones, Jan Mackey, Robin Nevin.
2004 Artist in Residence, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia.
2001 Winner , Elcom Open Award & First Prize, the 26th Central Coast Festival of Arts.
Adjudicator: James Deas, advisor to the William Bowmore Collection and assistant Curator to Sir William Dobell’s last exhibition in New South Wales.
Adjudicator’s comment: “Outstanding handling of paint producing an evocative atmospheric work”.
2001 Scholarship Award granted by the Goethe-Institut Inter Nationes,
Munich, Germany.
1996 Scholarship Award granted by the Goethe-Institut Inter Nationes,
Munich, Germany.
1973 Winner First Price Mural Design Competition for the Mimosa Public School,
Warringah Shire Council, Sydney, Australia.
1967, 1968,
1969
Winner 2 Gold Medals, 3 First Prizes and Awards.
The National Iranian Painting Competition, Tehran, Iran.
   
Travel & Work
   
2008 Residing and painting in Mainz, Germany - returning back to Sydney, Australia.
2007 Residing and painting in Mainz, Germany. Travelled to Paris, Frankfurt, Wiesbaden, Maria Alm in the Alps, and Salzburg.
2006 Travelled to Germany and Armenia. Conducted exhibitions at the Galerie Bredeney in Essen. Collaborations with Georg Weber and Michael Siewert. Major Solo exhibition of Abstracts and Painting Performance at the National Gallery of Armenia in June. Collaborated with Armenia’s well known Ashoogh Jivan - Sayat Nova Ensemble and dancer of Sofie Devoyan Dance Company, in Yerevan.
2005 Purchased a property with husband(Peter) and established bases in Mainz, Germany, as a second Studio in Europe.
2004 Travelld to Germany, Austria and Armenia. Held exhibition in April at the Bredeney Gallery with 2 German artists. Including an exhibition at the Leichlingen Buerger Haus in September in Leichlingen. Travelled to Armenia for the preparation of an international project granted by the Gosford Regional Art Gallery in NSW. Worked as Artist in Residence and at the studio granted by the Director of the National Gallery of Armenia in Yerevan.
2001 Travelld to Germany. Attended seminars at the Goethe-Institut Inter Nationes, Head Quarter, the historical Marlene Dietrich’s House in Weimar and further in Berlin. Visited the historical “Hamburger Bahnhof Museum” in Berlin and met its Head Curator. visited the historical Monuments, contemporary Galleries, Museums and the renowned “Haus der Kulturen der Welt” in Berlin. Visited historical residences of Paul Klee and Kandinsky, designed by Walter Gropius in Dessau. Visited the Bauhaus School in Berlin, Weimar and Dessau. Collaborated with international artists from Russia, Serbia, Norway, Sweden, Ireland, Turkey, India, Thailand, Lithuania, Brazil, and Portugal.
2001 Travelled to Japan on an official invitation by the Cultural Director in Japan to stage painting performance and exhibition at the Edogawa Sogo Bunka Centre, the Concert Hall, Tokyo. Presented artist by the Japanese dignitaries at the Official Mayoral Civic Reception Ceremony, representing Australia in a Cultural Exchange in Tokyo. Visited cultural sites and Galleries in Tokyo.
1998 Travelled with husband in Australia and visited historic sites.
1998 Spent 3 months in Europe. Preparations for exhibition in Essen, visited Austria, France and Holland again. Travelled in Provence; Avignon, Roussillon, Arles, Nimes and Aix-en-Provence, visited Cézannes’ House, Studio and Museum. Visited Modern and Contemporary Galleries in Paris and received exhibition offers from Nicole Ferry Gallery in Paris and the Sojo Gallery in Amsterdam.
1996 As a recipient of the Goethe-Institute Inter Nationes Scholarship from Munich, lived in Düsseldorf for 3 months. Met and worked with the renowned International performance painter Barbara Heinisch pupil of Joseph Beuys. Attended her workshops on performance and with Düsseldorf Frauenkunst Gesellschaft. Interacted with the artists of the "Kunstakademie Düsseldorf" and met Prof. Christian Megert, Member of the Group Zero Movement. Collaborated with artists from Düsseldorf, Essen, Cologne and Berlin. Undertook research on art and design education and on the following Institutions in Germany, "Kunstakademie Düsseldorf", "Academy of Media Arts" and "die Fachhochschule Köln, in Cologne. Attended Festival of Art in Düsseldorf and Cologne. Visited Rembrandt and Van Gough Museums in Amsterdam, also discovered German Expressionists in particular Kate Kolowitz and Emil Nolde. Visited Nolde Gallery in Oberhausen. Began collaborations with the Essen artists and in particular with Herbert Siemandel-Feldmann at the Galerie Bredeney in Essen.
1991 Spent 3 Months in Europe and travelled extensively. Heidelberg, Frankfurt, Mainz, Kassel, Luxemburg, Paris and Amsterdam. Visited famous Museums and Galleries on Modern and Post Modern Painters.
1977 - 1981 Travelled to America, lived in Salt lake City, Richfield, Casper and Los Angeles. Continued Academic Degrees. Worked as commercial artist in Richfield, and Casper. Travelled extensively throughout the North America, Santa Fe and Mexico. Attended Life Drawing workshops in Richfield, and painted landscapes.
1970 Moved with parents to Sydney, Australia and continued education. Completed School Certificate and the Higher School Certificate at the Forest High, Frenchs Forest, Sydney. Continued and completed Academic Education.
1969 Childhood travels with parents to Bangkok, Hong Kong, and The Philippines: visited the historic sites in Manila, Calcutta, Mumbai and twice visited the Palace of Taj Mahal in Agra, India.
1968 Childhood travels with parents to England, Germany, France, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Luxemburg, Bulgaria, Turkey; the Topkopi Museum and Hagia Sofia in Istanbul. Visited famous Museums.
1966 & 1967 Childhood travels with parents throughout Persia (now Iran). Tehran, Tabriz, Hamadan, Ghom, Caspian Sea, Isfahan, Julfa, visited ancient monuments, Museums and the historic Persepolis in Shiraz.
   
Bibliography:
   
2007 November – February Issue 2008, Australian Art Review, Sydney, Australia.
2007 October 2007, Issue #54, Art, by Annemarie Lopez, The Sydney Magazine.
2007 Oct. 13 -14, 07, Open Gallery, by Kerry Coleman, Arts, & Entertainment,
Spectrum, The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, Australia.
2007 September 6, 2007, Live art in fantasy land, by Karina Dungar, MX, Sydney, Australia.
2006 Community Channel, painting performance broadcast, Sydney, Australia.
2006 Media interview and broadcast: HI - Radio and Television, Yerevan, Armenia.
2006 7 June, Art Review, AZG, Yerevan, Armenia.
2006 Interview and Review, 168 Newspaper, Yerevan, Armenia.
2006 2 June, Neue Ruhe Zeitubg, & Westdeutsche Algemeine Zeitung, Essen, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Germany.
2005 Issue 34 October - December, The Australian Art Collector, international circulation.
2005 October Issue, Art Almanac, nationwide circulation.
2005 Jan. 20, The Central Coast ABC Radio, live Interview broadcast, Central Coast, NSW.
2000 August “Opening with fanfare” Central Coast Express, Australia
2004 Express Advocate, Central Coast, NSW.
2004 Dec. 22-30 Metropolitan, "This Week's Best" , Sydney Morning Herald.
2004 Armenian Art - Hay Arvest Magazine, Yerevan, Armenia and international circulation.
2004 Wed. 28 April, "Stars mit Gefuehl" , by Tankred Stachelhaus, Pressekritiken" Neue Ruhe Zeitung, NES06, Essen, Germany.
2004 Dec.8, SBS Radio interviews in 2 parts, Sydney and Melbourne broadcast, Australia.
2004 Feb. 8, Tim Benzie Review "In the Frame" The Sun Herald, Sydney, Australia.
2004 Feb. 3, "Winning Touch" The Wentworth Courier, Sydney, Australia.
2004 Feb.3, "Andrew Taylor Spotlight review" Metropolitan, Sydney Morning Herald, Australia.
2004 Feb. Issue, 5th page, Art Almanac Australia, nationwide circulation.
2003 SBS Radio interviews, Sydney and Melbourne broadcast.
2002 Issue 21, July – Sept., Australian Art Collector Journal – international circulation
2003 SBS Radio interview
2003 Dec.3 “Art of the party” by Robin Amadio, The Wentworth Courier, Sydney
2003 Vol 41, No2, 2003, Art & Australia, international circulation
2003 Nov. 29, “From Body to Energy” article in Leading Sydney Homes
2003 June Issue 7th page, Art Almanac, nationwide circulation
2002 Issue 21, July - Sept., Australian Art Collector Journal - international circulation.
2002 Sept. 11, "Stepping a head" in Going Places 40 by Robin Amadio, the Wentworth Courier, Sydney, Australia.
2002 July 3 "Peter Munro Spotlight review, Metropolitan, The Sydney Morning Herald.
2002 July Issue, 3rd page, Art Almanac Australia, nationwide circulation.
2001 June 12, review, The Youmiuri Shimbun, Tokyo, over 10 million in circulation, Japan.
2001 April 11, "Festival winner" Central Coast Express Wyong, Australia
2001 March15, front page in colour "Milanda on world stage" Hornsby & Upper North Shore Advocate, Sydney Australia
2001 "Visual dialogue artist heads for Japan" Central Coast Express.
2001 Special commemorative Issue 200, in colour, Portfolio section, The Australian Artist Magazine, nationwide circulation.
2000

August "Opening with fanfare" Central Coast Express, Australia.

2000 June, The Wentworth Courier, Sydney, Australia.
2000 June, Financial Review - The Age, Sydney, Australia.
1999 Nine to Five Magazine, Sydney, Australia.
1998 Dec.3, "Vivid landscapes and sunsets" Hornsby & Upper North Shore Advocate, Sydney, Australia.
1998 11 Dec. "Art to mediate with" Central Coast Express Advocate, Gosford, Australia. Sept. 12, Review, Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung Düsseldorf, Cologne Germany.
1998 Sept. 12, Review, Neue Ruhe Zeitung, Essen, Germany.
1996 Illustrators of Sydney, Australia.
1995 "The Professional Advantage" TAFE Images, Sydney, Australia.
1983 & 1984 Creative handbook of Australia

 



 

 

 

 

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