Feeling Kerala exhibition

April 2024 at Madeline Gordon Gallery, Launceston

Artist Statement:

The works in this exhibition are inspired by a place, culture and people that had a deep impact on me, soaked into my being like a warm mazha (pronounced mara, rain).

I travelled to Kerala as an artist for the purpose to visit the 2022-23 Kochi- Mizuris Contemporary Art Biennale. I met many fellow artists and students; visited art collages and cultural centers.

In this exhibition I extend my normal use of materials and move my work into three dimensions. In some works, I open the sides of the canvas frame to create additional surfaces or take the canvas off the frame and fold it, creating layers and sides available to a painter’s experimentation.

The painting canvases become open containers, dripping with colours in wax impasto. In them, I reference architecture, the climate and everyday street life experiences, such as going to the market or having chai under a blue tarp roof. Three works on khadi (cotton paper) are pieces concerning spirituality and spiritual energy.

I welcome everyone to attend the exhibition and celebrate the joy and awe of travel to new places.