Garry John Orriss

Garry John Orriss (7 October 1967 in Sydney) is a British-Australian painter and photographer. He lives and works in Berlin.
Early life and education
Garry Orriss is of German, French and Irish descent and was adopted in childhood by an Australian couple of British origin.
He studied art and photography in Sydney from 1985-88 at the Meadowbank School of Fine Art (certificate) and at the City Art Institute.
Career
After he learned of his adoption, he traveled the world from 1990 to 1995, cycling through 45 countries from Australia to his father's Oxford birthplace. He recorded his impressions in diaries and sketch books; many were shown in exhibitions. In 1999, Orriss lived in China where he worked for several companies, including the Kempinski hotel.
In an interview in 2019 he cited a prior battle with alcoholism as a motivating factor. At the time he was 14 months and 12,000 kilometres into a five-year journey around Australia.
He is known primarily for his contrasting images of couples breaking cultural, social, political or religious taboos.
Exhibitions
* 1987 "Sketches on paper", The Wendy Smith Gallery, Bundanoon, Australia.
* 1988 "Recent Paintings", the artist's studio, Bundanoon, Australia.
* 1989 "City Scapes and Recent Paintings", the artist's studio, Sydney, Australia.
* 1989 "Sacred Ceremonies and Images from Papua New Guinea", Mosman Town Hall, Sydney, Australia.
* 1990 "Works on Paper", the artist's studio, Bundanoon, Australia.
* 1991 "Drawings on Paper," The Old Brewery Gallery, Goulburn, Australia.
* 1991 "Paintings and Watercolors", the artist's studio, Bundanoon, Australia.
* 1999 "Past and Present", exhibition at the Carl Zeiss Planetarium in Berlin, Germany.
* 1999 "Works on Paper", Kempinski Hotel, Beijing, China.
* 2002 "Large sketches and other works on paper", the artist's studio, Berlin, Germany.
* 2007 Special exhibition in the Berlin studio of the artist, opened by the Australian Ambassador to Germany (Ian Kemish)
* 2007 "Etchings and Works on Paper", Gallery Z, Ruky, Czech Republic.
Prizes and awards
* 1987 "Australia National Student" - Art Prize (1st prize), Bathurst, Australia.
* 1988 Bicentennial Royal Easter Show Drawing Award (2nd Prize), Sydney Stadium, Australia.
* 1989 "The Bowral Photography Art Prize" (1st prize), Bowral, Australia.
* 1991 "Berrima District Art Prize" (1st prize), Bowral, Australia.
Installations and performances
* 1986 "Party out of bounds" (project: wrapped house), Bundanoon, Australia.
* 1990 "The Burning" - The burning of all the artists possessions, Bundanoon, Australia.
* 1992 "Monropo Entropy and Atrophy" (Sea-side installation), The Mon Repos National Park, Bargara Beach, Australia.
* 1993 "The Clever Country" (Highway installation), Marlborough Road, Serina, Australia.

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