Ever looked at an abstract painting at an art gallery and thought “Yeah I could do that.”? Well, this is how it turned out for one unsuspecting Sydneysider. From Sam Kissajukian’s retirement from a decade long stand-up comedy career to his success in becoming a breakout visual artist. 300 Paintings is a humorous look at self-discovery and search for identity whilst navigating loneliness, isolation and mental health during the Covid lockdown.

Sam’s dedication to art (and his persona as an artist) was apparent from the very start as he stepped onto the stage in a chic turtleneck and navy suit. An impressive outfit for a balmy 33-degree evening. His raw and unflinchingly honest account of mental health kept the audience captivated throughout the whole show. Although it was a heavy subject, Sam’s storytelling was energetic and uplifting. He had us gasping from shock one moment and then bursting into laughter the next.

I found it fascinating listening to his creativity as he explained PowerPoint slides of his artwork. It was an eye-opening look at the artistic processes and the brain connections that power it. How the art was, of sorts, a map for his mental state. I would recommend this show to anyone wants to laugh, reflect and be moved. 300 Paintings is one of the best stand-ups I’ve seen recently, and I will definitely be thinking about it for quite some time.