Perth Voice Interactive

PERTH artist Ben Mitchell has taken people watching to a whole new level with Stainspotting, a series of artworks of unsuspecting train commuters that he draws on used tickets.

The project began as a way to fill in the long commute between his Bassendean home and Midland studio, and reflects earlier art pieces of cargo trains at Midland, with their stains and rust, and the cult movie Trainspotting: “It’s a play on words about these things,” Mitchell says.

Torn train tickets collaged into a small sketchbook, became his medium.

When more were needed to expand the project he approached Transperth, which happily handed over two big garbage bags of used tickets.

Pulped and reconstituted to create larger canvas they’re still recognisable, Mitchell says.

“It was important to keep that these are people on a train.”

Despite being captured in a public space Mitchell’s subjects are in their own private world, via mobile and tablet and unaware they are being sketched.

“This generation live their private lives in public,” the artist says.

Many of his subjects wear sunglasses, further cutting them off from their surroundings: “They feel shielded from the world and they are nonchalant.”

He says he’s spoiled for choice when it comes to characters, which include drunks, cyclists, hipsters, mountain bikers and business people.

“Many could be found with an earpiece. Although the drunk ones would spend more time yelling than listening.” Mitchell says. “All public space is political space—or so I learned.”

Over the weeks only one passenger challenged him, “who…said ‘are you drawing me, you can’t do that, you are invading my space’.” The sketch was handed over and artist and subject parted on good terms.

See if you can spot yourself among the Stainspotting portraits at small bar/cafe The Bird on William Street, Northbridge, until October 17– open noon to late 7 days.

by JENNY D’ANGER