Za, Mel

I explore narrative with themes and subjects that are close to my heart, like motherhood. Being a mother to three young children, the path I navigate to raise them with love, vulnerability and acceptance is groundwork to my artistic endeavours. My work that touches on sea creatures stems from my identity as a maritimer and my childhood fascination with the ocean. I also look to art history and modern social constructs for inspiration, sometimes contrasting the two. Abstraction and organic forms are the backbone of my body of work. I title my work to act as a map, guiding the audience, but never dictating the destination. I trust my work will take people where they need to go, and allow joy and discomfort to co-exist. My work often cycles through the different techniques. However, in times of personal growth, I stimulate myself by pushing the techniques to new unexplored territory. I am drawn to forms that balance precariously, build up layers of dripping, colour, and texture. I attempt to open up a piece in a way that light can spill through the space, let it breathe.