​​Beginnings

Late last century, I was faced with a choice. I was living in Adelaide and had been accepted into both the Centre For the Performing Arts (now The Helpmann Academy) as an actor, and the Stanley Street School Of Art (now Adelaide College Of The Arts) in visual art. I chose the former and my artistic life pursuing theatre commenced. 

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In the years following graduation I worked as an actor, theatre company manager and theatre artist, later successfully applying for RPL and awarded an Advanced Diploma in Performance (Acting) that as I understand it is the equivalent to the current academic grading of the full time 3 year course (the course was 2 years at the time that I attended)*.

 

In November 2010 a lifelong desire to visit Egypt was realized. By the beginning of 2012 my urge to paint again was so great that I picked up a paintbrush and painted for the first time in over 20 years. I have not stopped since.

 

I describe my paintings as “Nouveau Kemetic”, “Neo Kemetic”, "Pharaonic Surrealism", “Neo Pharaonic” and "Pharaonic Expressionism". All of these terms speak to the inherent Ancient Egyptian themes that my paintings centre upon and the new take on those themes also. I am fine with people thinking of my style as a form of Ancient Egyptian Fan Art.

 

I am known professionally as Setken. I use this mononym as my painting moniker and for all public interfacing, including my talks. Setken is also the brand name of my art, with the cartouche logo being my trademark and signature.

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Early days: The Blake Prize and The Director's Cut

 Three of my paintings were selected for the non-prize winning arm of the Blake Prize For Religious and Spiritual Art called "The Director's Cut". The Blake Prize has since undergone a change in administration and from the 65th Blake Prize the Director's Cut is no longer a part of the competition.

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In the 62nd Blake Prize (2013) the works selected were  Winged Set and The Artist As Beloved Of Heru And Set. In the 64th (2016) Blake Prize Director's Cut my painting This Has All Happened Before And This Will All Happen Again, was selected. This painting is also featured on the cover of an academically published book by Egyptologist Dr. Paul Harrison, Profane Egyptologists.

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Two cool publishing events occurred in 2024: my painting Nehebukau And The Ocean Of Reassurance was published in The Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities by Dr. Tamara Siuda, under the listing for Nehebukau, as well as references to my work under Sepa and Abyt. In August I was a featured artist in Jimmy Hornet Magazine Volume 6, a unique glossy publication made in Melbourne about creatives for everyone.

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My exhibitions:

Neo Pharaonic 2018 ​

My debut exhibition Neo Pharaonic was staged in February 2018. A documentary was made about it that won some prizes in short film festivals in the US Short Film Festival Circuit. Neo Pharaonic featured 24 of my paintings and was staged over 3 days in inner city Melbourne suburb Prahran.

Adventures In Zoomorphic Idolatry 2023

In July 2023 I staged Adventures In Zoomorphic Idolatry in Melbourne suburb Brunswick East. 14 paintings including previously unseen works, as well as talks and screenings of some of my films, made the event popular.

Garden Party 2025

My most successful exhibition, this event was held at my house and studio with the entire property (including outdoors) set up as a gallery of 55 works. It was a one day only event in April and we had unusually glorious weather for it.​​​

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Egyptomania / Egyptian Reception Studies, and the Syme Tomb​

Egyptomania (or how the phenomena of Ancient Egypt is expressed in our modern world) is another great interest. I am a member of the ISSE, and am lucky to live in Melbourne where there are 3 rather spectacular Egyptianized funerary monuments. I have painted all 3, but the extraordinary tomb of

David and Annabella Syme has been a special focus as it is truly unique.

 

After many years of research, I have uncovered historically and culturally significant information which I presented via public talks throughout 2025 and 2026. A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne was hosted across multiple Melbourne venues including the 2025 Open House Melbourne program.

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Today​

In 2025 my painting Winged Sekhmet was featured on the label for a craft beer called Sekhmet's Rage by Bacchus Brewing in Queensland. I featured a beer tasting in my Garden Party exhibition event and it was a welcome addition to a successful day. It was an excellent brew too! The beer is being reconstituted in 2026 as Sekhmet's Dark Rage.

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After eight years of researching colonial newspaper magnate David Syme and his wife Annabella's tomb in a cemetery in Melbourne's eastern suburbs I have written a book about it. Besides discussing the historical David Syme, I examine the alternative spirituality movements that occurred adjacent to the building of the structure,and provide a thorough analysis of the tomb including new and forgotten information that addresses directly Syme's interest in Ancient Egyptian Religion. I presented a paper on this for the June 2026 ISSE Religion Study Day symposium.

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I have written the narrative and game play for a computer game that features my art called The Book Of The Divine Insects. I have created an oracle deck and am considering producing it commercially.

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​​I have a deep interest in the elements of the soul that I refer to as soul anatomy, most especially as expressed by the Ancient Egyptians. My paintings address this across many works. 

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I consider myself an amateur Egyptologist and study hieroglyphics to this end. As well as pharaonic history, I am also interested in modern Egyptian history, especially the first Egyptian Prime Minister Saad Zaghloul.

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​I was previously an amateur bodybuilder and had a long career in the fitness industry. I have produced a documentary that focuses on the year I entered 4 competitions in bodybuilding and fitness titled Your Shape Is Distinct. The film is currently in raw post production while I consider what I want to do with it.

 

I use alternative therapies like salt therapy, red and infrared light, and aromatherapy. I have a great interest in art history, artist biography, and Melbourne's history.

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June 2026

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*The Wikipedia entry for the Centre For The Performing Arts, now Adelaide College Of the Arts, has listed incorrect information about the establishment of the course and its first intake of students, of which I was one.

I attempted to fix this recently by contacting AC Arts but the disinterested receptionist did not know what I was talking about and subsequently the information has not been corrected.

If any alumni or staff currently associated with the school wishes to get the correct information about the genesis of the Acting course under David Kendall, where we studied the revolutionary system of Rudolf Laban alongside Stanislavsky - unique in the world - please contact me.​​