Hadley’s Art Prize 2023 - Residency prize (April 2024)

A residency for an artist is pure indulgence and a time to be treasured. April 2024 was spent living the dream at Salamanca Art Centre in Hobart, immersed in my art practice without the usual distractions that life at home brings.

I used the time to explore the natural landscape in Lutruita Tasmania from an aerial perspective. With permission from the Tasmanian Land Conservancy, I accessed reserves that protect some of Tasmania’s fragile habitats with the intention to observe and collect reference material. Photographs, along with my sketches and notes became key reference material for my work back in the studio.

An aerial perspective offers insight into the interconnectedness of nature's elements, highlighting the dependence each element has on another for survival. It’s a remarkable and beautiful balance of relationships. With this idea informing my work, I painted expansive vistas across three panels as a triptych. Each panel, although separate, is connected and relates to the others, providing the complete picture. It stands as a reminder that our understanding of nature is enriched when we acknowledge its intricate web of relationships, and that our actions, no matter how small, can have profound impacts on the delicate balance of ecosystems.