Rel Pham is a Naarm/Melbourne-based artist, designer, animator and illustrator known for a strong use of electric, vibrant colours and a penchant for surrealism. Drawing upon old world fables and rituals for thematic inspiration, Pham explores the interconnected nature of our current physical and digital realities through screen-based video, animation and installation. Pham creates hybrid worlds, rendering traditional scenes of Cao Dai temples and Western classical art in an illuminated palette of neon PC coolant fluid and radiant LED lights. He flattens our past, present and future to demystify the invisible numbers that surround everyday life, exposing the programmed spectres haunting our data through cautionary tales of being intrinsically connected online. 

Rel has presented the solo exhibitions and commissions TORRENT, The Bridge, Kingston (2022); Electric Dirge, 4A Digital, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art (2021); Alter_Egos, goodspace, Sydney (2016) and HEADSHOT_GET, The Corner Cooperative, Sydney (2014). He has participated in several group exhibitions including NFT Illuminated, The Galeries Victoria, Sydney (2021); Lousy Ink, Bside Gallery, Melbourne (2018); GORO2, M2 Gallery, Sydney (2017); Art Not Apart Festival, Canberra (2017); and This Is Not Art Festival, Newcastle (2015). Pham was the winner of Muralogy 2017 and previously a finalist in the Australian Stencil Art Prize, 2011. He completed a residency at Brand X in 2017 with collaborator Zeke’s Lunchbox.

Words by Con Gerakaris