Folly, 2024. Oil, graphite and polyurethane on Belgian linen. 600mm x 600mm

Folly 2024, selected work for Time, From Out of the Blue Studio and Gallery Opunake, New Zealand, 2024.

Artist statement-

My work speaks to feminine archetypes, as referenced here by the pomegranate seeds, the fruit in ancient times was known as Eve’s Apple. As a transcendent, modernist device, and also utilitarian in reticulation and pattern making, the grid provides a structure for provocation. Revisiting the grid was a way to re-enter my art practice, the momentum of which, was severely compromised due to multiple Covid lockdowns in Victoria, a state notorious globally for its strictest and longest lockdowns. 

Juror’s notes: I have never considered the grid as ‘a structure for provocation’ but traditionally and in this context it gives a stability and a sense of order. The symbolic use of the pomegranate seed, along with the sparseness of the overall composition, creates a dynamic work. Whether the seeds need to be encapsulated is a question to consider. Creating the solid form, and not overplaying it, has resulted in a highly successful and evocative work. 

Dr Carole Shepheard, November 2024