Hobart father-son martial arts duo showcase talents in joint art exhibition

Hobart father-son martial artists are showcasing a different kind of artwork in their first joint exhibition. See their inspiring story.

Artists Peter Kelly and his son Oscar Vincent Kelly 13 who are having an exhibition titled One Thousand Pieces of Gold at the artHouse, New Norfolk. Picture: Chris Kidd

A DYNAMIC father-son duo known for their mastery of martial arts are showcasing their artistic talents with a joint gallery exhibition of captivating works in New Norfolk.

Peter Kelly has drawn and painted his whole life, he’s inspired by Vincent van Gogh, so much so he gave his son the middle name Vincent.

The pair have followed in his footsteps, with their unique style expressing emotion in the moment.

“The way I paint isn’t ‘picture perfect,’ it isn’t seen, but a feeling. They have significance to me because I saw something in a different way,” Mr Kelly said.

He’s the International Chief Instructor of Aikido and the youngest person in the martial art’s history to be promoted to the rank of 10th Dan. Mr Kelly was also inducted into the Australasian Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2017.

Artists Peter Kelly and his son Oscar Vincent Kelly 13 who are having an exhibition titled One Thousand Pieces of Gold at the artHouse, New Norfolk. Picture: Chris Kidd

The exhibition’s name “One Thousand Pieces of Gold,” symbolises “Giving your child a skill is better than giving them one thousand pieces of gold.”

Mr Kelly said he hopes to inspire parents to share their passions with their children, to allow them to see the love you have for something and then they can grow to love it themselves.

“It can be an infectious thing,” he said, “We both surf, do martial arts, and art. I think any experience that you can share with a child just makes the bond stronger.”

His son Oscar, 13, is a student at Taroona High and won in the Young Archies Awards when he was 10.

Mr Kelly started teaching him how to draw to help him settle and concentrate because he had trouble sitting still.

“It’s the freedom to express what you feel and I love just getting lost in the moment of creating,” Oscar said.

It’s Oscar’s inaugural art exhibition and his drawing “Devil of a Time,” sold within the first week for $650.

“I never thought something like this would ever happen, especially at my age,” he said.

The exhibition is open until February 25 at 47a High Street, the artHouse, New Norfolk.

Originally published as Hobart father-son martial arts duo showcase talents in joint art exhibition