Feels Like a War Zone, 2020

This dyptych artwork depicts the symbol of the coffin buried underground yet filled with artifacts. Discovering a way of uncovering the buried treasure found on the canvas, during 2020 and 2021 I loved this way of working. It was extremely satisfying and helped me be mindful and present. The concentration required to excavate an object using Australian Sky Blue Matisse acrylic left me more relaxed.

At the time I was thinking about the fragility of life and how deep inside of all of us lie soul artifacts, remnants of memories, times of joy and pain, body experiences and dreams. It felt like a war zone in the world with people dying all around and the Government taking control in ways I had never experienced before. There was a battle like mentality, to fight the pandemic and it was creating trauma for most people. The black and white, them and us mentality started to surface more and more as our community became more divided. In the ring of steel, out of the ring of steel. Victoria vs NSW. This border, or that border. Who do we hate the most? Victorian Premier Dan Andrews or Former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian?

To me and my clients Dan and Gladys started to represent internal splits. Good and Bad. Black and White. Hatred towards one or the other reminded me of how we can blame others to avoid our own aggressive and destructive side. All around me people were taking sides and those that weren't vaccinated also became targets of aggression. Clients who weren't vaccinated were feeling persecuted and those with chronic illnesses overlooked and neglected. It seemed like a bizarre case of survival of the fittest for months.