Isolation, 2020. Oil on board. 120 x 80cm.
This artwork explores the anxiety felt during pandemic-induced isolation. The pressure to remain at home and the fear of infection, had a significant impact on mental health. This self-portrait aims to depict a distortion of reality, a fading away and separation from society. A veil hangs across the face, questioning the sense of self and a loss of identity. The apple branches provide a link to nature, my safety net, but they have been separated, cut and contained; the vase isolating nature, as society isolates from one another. The painting also aims to show resilience with the portrait staring out directly at the viewer; determined to face fears and move forward.
From left to right:
Lost, 2020. Clay, glaze and spray paint.
King, 2020. Clay, glaze and spray paint.
The King and the Crow, 2020. Clay and glaze.
Exhibited as part of the group show, HCP - In an Era of Isolation. As we entered the initial period of the Covid-19 lock down, like many people I had many concerns particularly as standard food and household items disappeared from the shop shelves and we faced an indefinite period of self-isolation. As I no longer left my house and worked via online platforms, the world suddenly shrank both in terms of the physical walls of the house around me and globally as society was united by a common threat and we were all now in the same boat. However, this threat, being viral, was invisible and provided no clear foe to fight against, beyond donning masks, gloves and lathering on the liquid gold, hand sanitizer. The creative work I produced during this time reflected feelings of paranoia and powerlessness and yet at the same time the creative practice, as usual, provided a distraction from stress and a way to process these feelings. The work aims to present a feeling of isolation, of being lost and helpless; connected to the world via technology but unable to do anything to assist in fixing the situation. Thankfully, in Western Australia, we now appear to be in a much more positive position, as restrictions ease and life starts to go back to normal, or as close to normal as we can in a hopefully post Covid-19 period.
Unraveling in Suburbia, 2020. Oil on board. 61 x 91.5cm.
A comment on suburbia and the way we interact with the environment in which we live, this artwork explores an unraveling and distortion of reality. Houses lined up row by row, the streets of suburbia are unusual places that, on the surface, can appear mundane and banal. Much of the population of Australia live in the suburbs, laid out in a patchwork of houses and streets all looking very similar to each other, however, once we move past the external facade of the footpath, manicured lawn and front door, we enter a private space in which lives are lived and stories told. Here the ideal facade begins to unravel at the edges, fading into the blue. The stylised clouds and sky presenting a shift in thinking, as they slowly pass overhead, offering the viewer a glimpse into the mental state of the inhabitants.
Tie Your Laces Tight, 2020. Oil on board. 60 x 120cm.
Celeste, 2020. Oil on board. 45.5 x 61cm.
You Are Seen, 2020. Oil on board. 51 x 40.5cm.