Julian Hocking's 'Pure X' Finds Beauty in Uncertainty

Overview

This November, Sunday Salon presents Pure X, a solo exhibition by Melbourne-based artist Julian Hocking, running from November 10 to 16 at Saloon Store, located inside the iconic Curtain House building. Known for his bold, graphic aesthetic and experimental approach to printmaking, Hocking's latest series explores the algebraic symbol "x" as a stand-in for the unknown.

This concept runs like a quiet current through his work. Using black ink and graphite layered with unconventional materials like rye whiskey and vermouth, his compositions push the limits of what print media can hold, blending precision with unpredictability.

Both mathematical and emotional, Pure X tests how uncertainty can take physical form through abstraction, wry phrasing, and measured design. Each piece feels like an equation half-solved, inviting the viewer to sit with ambiguity rather than resolve it.

Presented by Sunday Salon, a platform dedicated to accessible and community-driven art experiences, Pure X continues the collective's mission to champion emerging Australian voices and create space for experimental practice outside traditional gallery models.

Images: Supplied