ARTIST'S STATEMENT

My arts practice has, for many years, focused on examining the notion of the ‘sublime’ as it relates to my experiences of the landscape of regional NSW, Australia.

In my artwork, I re-examine the nineteenth century Romantic aesthetic notion that divides the world into categories, differentiating the ‘sublime’ from the ‘picturesque’ or ‘pastoral’. Contrary to that, I suggest that ‘sublime’ moments can be experienced in any environment.

My intention is to capture the intense colour and light of these ‘sublime’ moments, expressed in big, sweeping, dramatic skies. I utilise this motif of 'two-thirds sky’ to represent the natural environment, which is sometimes uncomfortably married with a ‘man-impacted"‘, rural and/or suburban landscape, typical of the Northern Rivers region where I live.

This juxtaposition reiterates existing tensions in the area related to land use versus land preservation. These ‘man-impacted’ landscapes are dotted with ‘mundane’ elements, such as roads, trucks, signs, machinery and petrol stations which are elevated from the ordinary to the extraordinary, through the vehicle of the ‘sublime’.

I aim to create ‘timeless’ landscapes that are recognisably Australian and create a sense of intrigue, drama and an opening for a personal narrative to be created.