you can’t cut down the sun

Solo show 2022
Curatorial & Co. Sydney

‘Awe and Wonder Somewhere, under the hot sun, on a bush track, on the edge of the Tasman Sea’
 2021 154cm x 224cm Synthetic Polymer on Canvas

‘Lost in the shade, you can’t cut down the sun’  (Gubbi Gubbi country) 2021 134cm x 164cm Synthetic Polymer on Canvas

‘Sun bleached days’(Gubbi Gubbi country) 2021 134cm x 164cm Synthetic Polymer on Canvas

‘Sunshine falls onto the path, leading down to the sea’(Wadawurrung) 2021 104cm x 144cm Synthetic Polymer on canvas

‘The warm bush hums through the filtered sun’ (Wadawurrung) 2021 104cm x 144cm  Synthetic Polymer on Canvas

‘Floating in a sea of infinite suns’(Pyemmairrener)  2021 124cm x 124cm Acrylic and Oil on Canvas

‘Deep Time, resting, catching the stars as they fall’ (Wadawurrung)  2021 124cm x 124cm Acrylic and Oil on Canvas

‘Deep Time, under the Milky Way’ – “It leads you here, despite your destination, under the Milky Way tonight” The Church (Wadawurrung) 2021 124cm x 144cm Acrylic and Oil on Canvas

'Under the hot sun, Deep Time waits for Anthropocene to catch up’ (Wadawurrung) 2021 124cm x 144cm Synthetic Polymer on Canvas

‘Deep Time, resting under the hot sun’ ((Wadawurrung) 2021 68cm x 48cm Synthetic Polymer on Belgium Linen

‘Time, raw, exposed, basking in the sun’ (Wadawurrung) 2021 68cm x 48cm Synthetic Polymer on Belgium Linen 

‘The sun, like a beacon, calls to low tide’ (Wadawurrung) 2021 68cm x 48cm Synthetic Polymer on Belgium Linen 

‘Dancing in the sunshine, diving into the cool lagoon’ (Larapuna) 2021 68cm x 48cm Synthetic Polymer on Belgium Linen 

‘Looking into the sun from the cool of the shade, halcyon days’ (Gubbi Gubbi country) 2021 84cm x 84cm Synthetic Polymer on Belgium Linen

‘Resting under the canopy, in the filtered sunshine, listening to cicadas sing’ (Gubbi Gubbi country) 2021 84cm x 84cm Synthetic Polymer on Belgium Linen 

‘The sun bleached path winds over time’ (Turrakana) 2021 68cm x 48cm Synthetic Polymer on Belgium Linen

‘On the edge, looking out over time’ (Turrakana) 2021 68cm x 48cm Synthetic Polymer on Belgium Linen

‘Life bends and clings to the edge of time’ (Turrakana) 2021 68cm x 48cm Synthetic Polymer on Belgium Linen

YOU CAN’T CUT DOWN THE SUN

I find context in my painting by using the landscape as a metaphor for our fragile earth,the
devastation of climate change in Anthropocene and our continued human need to belong.

I’m lying under a hot sun, feeling the solar sting penetrate my body… summer comes with harsh
dry days which beach loving souls inhale… The paradox of these halycon days, idealise and
craved while the dry, crip bush simmers in the hot sun… the violent edge of fire never far; an
aching reminder of our warming climate.

Stepping over shadows, treading on the flickering sun’s light, the hot glow of the day, filtered and
golden, hopeful in the welcome shelter under the cool shade of nature, memory ideal.

I stare at the night sky and marval at the milky way, our galaxy of infinte suns... washing over our
earth, like a blanket wrapping us in the mystery of life. I wonder how our planet exists amidst a
sea of distant suns.. our earth, our sun, our moon in perfect harmony.. I know its not unique to
dawn this realization yet it really is somthing to pause on.

Time and memory, like a dream; transport us back to sacred, ancient lands, deep time; earth,
fragile, precious, fleeting. Exploring treasured moments from time, I trace the atmosphere, mystery and magic in the places
I have experienced in my life. The merging of my memories of experience in the landscape, and the
feelings that arise during the process of painting, enhance an intimate and intense connection to
the environment and time.

Nature belongs on a pedastool, without interruption, in its wild and perfect state. Yet reality is less
than ideal... when I connect to time experienced there is often pain, discomfort and imperfection,
halycon days running parrallel with Anthropocene.

Staying focused on the magic and beauty of the earth, the constant hope and warmth in sunshine,
the aching beauty of a clear night sky littered with stars, the milky way; distant suns and the comfort
of dreaming amongst the dystopian chaos.

Hindsight haunts us and tempt us with places and experiences we can no longer visit. Deep time
a constant reminder in Anthropocene; now; our recent past, the dream-like fate of life and how this
connects us to the earth; dreaming, I try to capture the moment I long to reach back too and one I
hope we to move into. close to home...

takayna / Tarkine in northwestern Tasmania is home to one of the last tracts of old-growth rainforest
in the world, yet it’s currently at the mercy of destructive extraction industries, including logging
and mining, thousand year old trees, endangered species, fragile intricate eco syestms to be
destroyed to make way for roads and mine tailings … the lungs of our earth are in crisis, dying, crying.

‘I read the news today, oh boy’...

It haunts me how far humans will try and push our fragile Earth to its limits… in order to continue
to deforest, mine, contaminate; Anthropocene gets deeper and deeper wrapped up on itself…
You cant cut down the sun