ARTIST'S STATEMENT

The world of EXOTICS is a celebration of plant forms, some that perhaps no longer exist and others that may hold a nucleus from DNA found centuries ago. The shapes are highly manipulated in a riot of colour inviting the viewer to take part in this kaleidoscope where they can decide themselves if these plants actually do exist or are just part of my imagination. My art practice has consistently explored colour, composition and textural, abstract form with a strong connection to the natural world. Informed by research at both London’s Royal Horticulture Society Library and Sydney’s Botanical Gardens at the Daniel Solander Library exploring drawings in archives and heritage collections. I was fascinated by the extraordinary and varied interpretations different botanists had made of plant species, discovering a ’new world’ of flora and fauna, giving me license to create my own botanical language. Drawing and collaging under pin the paintings where hallucinogenic interpretations of extinct botanical species are juxtaposed with contemporary and invented plant forms. In EXOTICS enlarged microscopic shapes float across the surfaces of the paintings, almost like twirling DNA, vigorously pushing boundaries with colour, technique and patterns between the macro and micro detail that come together welcoming the viewer into a world of exotica. Colour celebrates nature, with lush paint, obsessive and repetitive mark making I want these paintings to bring the viewer joy, to smile, in my world let’s forget everything else that’s happening, and I hope, an antidote to current times and for a moment let’s just be happy.