If I Had Known Above the Mountains Lies Eternal Sunshine I Never Would Have Stopped Climbing
Paintings by Chris Proctor
5 April 2025 - 26 April 2025
This body of work explores the profound tension between ambition, struggle, and revelation.
If I Had Known Above the Mountains Lies Eternal Sunshine I Never Would Have Stopped Climbing, speaks to the human condition, the ever-present push to ascend, to reach, to transcend … desperate for whatever peace or fulfilment awaits on the other side of our toil.
Each piece in this exhibition reflects a journey - some personal, some universal. The mountains act as obstacles, challenges, and aspirations; they represent the highs and lows of life’s pursuits.
The "eternal sunshine" that lies beyond is not just a destination, but an awareness: the moment of clarity, peace, or understanding that comes when we are able to step back and see the bigger picture, or perhaps when we finally pause long enough to notice that we were already there.
These works challenge the viewer to question their own relationships with ambition and stillness - and reflect on the tension between the relentless pursuit of success and the quiet contentment of simply being.
Chris Proctor
Chris Proctor is a contemporary painter based on the NSW Mid North Coast.
Originally from England, Chris has called Australia home for the past eight years. His work embraces an “ugly is beautiful” philosophy, creating art that finds beauty and meaning in imperfection.
Chris works predominantly with found materials, including reclaimed wood, mis-tinted house paints, and old paintbrushes, giving discarded items a second life as part of his creative process.
Central to Chris’ practice is the belief that art is a reflection of the artist. The use of old brushes, which often resist precise control, forces him to embrace mistakes, transforming them into integral elements of his work. Each painting is composed of hundreds (sometimes thousands) of meticulously painted lines—a meditative process for the artist and a testament to the human hand behind the work. These marks, intentionally varied and imperfect, invite viewers to connect with the humanity of creation.
By making art from materials others have deemed unimportant, Chris elevates the value of what is often overlooked. His work challenges traditional notions of beauty and perfection, encouraging viewers to find meaning in the unconventional and the imperfect.