Julian Meagher’s Watercolour Paintings

More than six years ago, Sydney based artist Julian Meagher left his career as a doctor to pursue painting full time. His work focuses on the perception of modern masculinity, and features some obvious symbols of maleness – like beer bottles and sports heroes – and some not so obvious – like orchids. Although flowers have traditionally been associated with ideas of fragility and beauty, the term “orchid” actually derives from the Greek word órkhis, meaning “testicle,” after the shape of their root. Julian is also interested in how we associate colors with gender identity; primarily pink and blue, which feature heavily in his paintings. By placing pink orchids in blue beer bottles, he juxtaposes male and female symbolism, asking us to question our preconceptions about these items and what they represent.

Art © Julian Meagher