By Luke Voogt
Christian Den Besten lost count of his paintings after a few hundred, but isn’t giving up any time soon.
“I paint because I like it,” said the 46-year-old from central Geelong.
“It’s fun and makes me feel better.”
For more than 25 years Christian has captured some of Geelong’s most iconic buildings and landscapes in paint, pastel and sculpture.
His latest piece features alongside 80 works by local artists with disabilities and mental illnesses at artX, in Gordon Gallery from 9 to 16 May.
Christian based the painting, Fern Gully Rest House, on photo he took at Royal Botanical Gardens.
He was en route to the Shrine of Remembrance to learn about Vietnam veterans like his father, explained local arts coordinator Sharon Bromley.
Sharon runs Art Gusto, a “supported studio” where Christian and other artists with disabilities hone their skills.
“I’ve worked with him for nearly eight years,” she said.
Christian’s intellectual disabilities never stopped him becoming a “prolific” artist, she said.
“He’s got a huge body of work. He just doesn’t stop.“
Christians work had featured at venues including Canberra’s National Gallery of Australia and Sydney’s Australian maritime museum.
“He’s had no formal training. He’s what you’d call a real outsider artist,” Sharon said.
“It’s his form of connecting with his community.
“It’s really important he gets to be as independent as possible.”
