Whilst searching the web for new potential arty nutters to feature in The Arcade I came across Stephen Oatway from way down under, who specializes in “Junk Art”.
I’ve seen plenty of the likes around in places like the infamous “Welschap” in Eindhoven, Holland, crazy pieces my Dad created out of randoms scraps of metal etc. But nothing compared to this entire world Stephen created for himself. Dark and revolting in some instances yet somehow hopeful and childish in others. I mean, who has their very own Torture Bathtub designed for Electrocution?
I simply couldn’t resist…

How did you first roll in to the art of Junk?

Well I did a welding course for work and whilst putting metal test pieces together I started seeing  organic and mechanical figures shaping in the metal. Then one day while out in the bush I came across a graveyard of scrap metal on a farm property, so I rummaged through the pile of junk and found some intruiging pieces. I lay them out on the ground and could see  a full sized image of myself in rusty metal starting to form. I took the junk back to my house and welded it up and then found a perfect frame for me to hang on. That was one of my first projects.

What inspired you to take it further?

After having seen myself in junk, the thought of creating art from trash excited me; the junk was all rusty – it had history. It had been made for a purpose, used for that purpose and then thrown away and abandoned and I realized I was able to reincarnate into artwork, all the while cleaning up the environment. How cool is that? I find a piece of junk on the roadside or at the dump or anywhere for that matter and it talks to me..I start to see full sized sculptures from just one piece or sometime just the start of a sculpture.
For example, a few weeks ago I came across a 20 litre petrol drum. It had bullet holes in it, I guess someone had used it for target practise. I immediatley saw the head of Ned Kelly, a notorious Australian Bush Ranger. So I picked it up, went home and added his body. He’s almost complete now.

You created your own Time Machine. Tell us a bit more about that…

To make a long story short: I built the Time Machine in order to go back into the past and fix a terrible mistake I made…A mistake that no therapist or shrink could fix. So I lay in bed thinking about how if only I could change this one detail, I could move on and forward with my life. And like a bolt of lightening it hit me”! A Time Machine! I got up at 4am and started building. I found a chair and a steering wheel and a large base plate and…BAM! The idea for the Time Machine was born. After I had completed it I strapped myself in and put my special goggles on, set the time clock to the year I needed to go back to, turned the key, closed my eyes and off I was! And I changed just one thing..Instead of opening the front door, this time around I didn´t. I flew back home and landed my time machine in the back yard, took my goggles off and my long standing issues had finally been resolved. I was able to move on. Everything but the flight was emotionally draining.

What is it made up of?

A very eclectic mix, including, car parts, motorbike parts, umbrella, base plates, a welders chair, car lights, kids toys, ceiling fan to power the machine, a flux capacitor, clocks, kitchen utensils, mirrors, gauges, switches, lanterns, wire, plastic toys, computer parts and weapons in case I land in hostile territory.
Most people who have ridden the Time Machine have gone back in time to change their wrong doings and make things right, and some to catch up with loved ones who have passed.
Like little Daniel, from accross the road came over for a visit (he was 10 years)  while I was making the machine. He asked me if it worked. I said sure it does jump in a go for a ride! So he put the special goggles on, set the clock, turned the key, closed his eyes and off he went. He was gone for about 5 minutes. When he came back I asked him, where did you go Daniel? He said he went to visit his father, they went for a long drive, ate pizza and went to the movies. I said gee that was a wild ride! I then asked him where was his dad now? He told me his dad had died 5 years ago…  I was amazed as I did not know his father passed away, so it was at this point I knew the Time Machine didnt just work for me but it worked for others too, so over the years a lot of friends and strangers have come by for a ride on the Time Machine.

If you could actually travel to the future – what would you change?

If I went into the future, I would be able to stop all terroist acts and maybe find the cure for cancer, aids,  cerabral palsy and alcoholism to name a few …. and to see what year I would die so I can make the most of my time on earth now.

Tell me more about the ROOM 13 Installation..

The ROOM 13 installation was inspired by the movie One Flew Over the Cukoos-Nest starring Jack Nicholson. They used shock treatment on Jack in the movie and that scene stayed in my mind. Very powerful. So while creating Room 13 I based the idea on that movie. So if you have committed a hedious crime you will be placed in the bath… the exicutioner will hit the red button on the control panel and you will be fried… once you have burned he will turn the taps on to extinguish you..

What kind of people are drawn to it?

A large cross section of people from young, old, artist, musicians, gothics and people who think I am MAD. One mate sat in the bath and played the digeredoo it gave off good acoustics. I had a lady who visited and she had had shock treatment around the 1940s early 1950s. as she entered the room she collapsed in the corner. It was too much for her to handle.  Others felt their legs go weak and other people felt an evil spirit in the room when the door was shut. Others wouldn’t even enter the room they felt ill.

Your paintings are rather interesting as well. I especially notice a style when
it comes to the breasts and faces, bordering innocent to demonic. Was this
intended for the Mars series only, or can this style be found back in most of
your paintings?

Theis  style can be seen in most of my earlier works, but now I am experimenting with mixed media from glass, dried paint skins, smashed light globes, dried glue, smashed dinner plates, paint brushes, fabric, incorporated into mostly self portraits. Two of my most recent paintings are self portraits of me on my dads pillow (the pillow was the one he was sleeping on the night he died 2 years ago. I slept on it for a year until it was worn out amd squashed). Then I tore it up and painted my face on it. The the other is a self portrait using my dads ashes. My father and I did not speak for 8 years before he died so this was the closest I could closure. I get to see his ashes as my face each day when I look at the painting.

If you would like to learn more about the work of Stephen Oatway, please visit:

http://www.renkrn8.com.au/

by Roxanne Sancto

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