My life journey has taken me from a German culture (that I was born in yet am unfamiliar with) to an Australian culture (which I am familiar with). Born in Germany and migrated to Australia in 1990. Australia has become my home. It seems I belong somewhere between an understanding of a German and an Australian idea, but am not ever contained completely within any one set of borders. While I live up to my German passport it’s facts are not the true identity of myself.
My work explores crossing borders and self-identity, travelling through borders becomes the issues explored. These prints communicate to the audience with the posture of the face, which indicates no eye contact but a self-portrait of layered images onto the face but in contrast to the passport photo, eye contact is surrounded with written text confirming their identity.
As cultural layers grow, identity of a geographical place unites a connection to the land and growing up in its surroundings, has been the legitimacy of my identity. One needs to live up to their passport identity to be able to prove one’s own identity. Trying to address both cultures in the work is challenging but it can be corresponded through language, which incorporates my understanding of trying to identify myself in the wider spectrum of cultures and borders.
The printmaking mediums give me the opportunity to find a relationship through the constant investigation of ongoing studio practice in screen printing, photo-etching and woodblock, which talks about looking across one cultural border into another cultural background. Printmaking helps discover my identity within these borders.
The identity portrayed in my passport image is in fact in a constant state of change or flux. This change is depicted in my studio practice by differing ‘state’. This makes each image a moment in time contributing to my uncertain identity.
Group & Solo Exhibitions
- 2008 Bellingen Art Prize, Nexus Community Gallery, Bellingen
- 2007 The Bunker Gallery, Coffs Harbour
- 2007 CPM National Print Prize, Tweed Regional Art Gallery, Murwillimbah
- 2007 Kempsey Art Prize, Macleay Valley Community Art, Gladstone
- 2007 Members Show, Nexus Community Gallery, Bellingen
- 2006 Solo exhibition, Nexus Community Gallery, Bellingen
- 2006 Exit06 Visual Arts Graduation Exhibition, Southern Cross University, Lismore
- 2006 Next Gallery, Southern Cross University, Lismore
- 2006 Community Arts Council Members’ Art Exhibitions, Nexus Community Gallery, Bellingen
- 2006 Scotts Head Art Show, Scotts Head
- 2005 CPM National Print Prize, Tweed Regional Art Gallery, Murwillimbah
- 2005 Bellingen Art Prize, Nexus Community Gallery, Bellingen
- 2005 Hunting Pole, Lismore Regional Gallery, Lismore
- 2004 Bellingen Art Prize, Nexus Community Gallery, Bellingen
- 2003 Mantova Art Competition, Coffs Harbour
- 2003 Coffs Harbour City Art & Craft Exhibition, Coffs Harbour
- 1998 Years 7-10 Schools Art Exhibitions: People & Other Living Things, Grafton Regional Gallery
Awards
- 2006 Scotts Head Art Show, Highly Commended, Scotts Head
Workshops
- 2007 Sara Bowen, Printmaking, Coffs Harbour
- 2006 Michael Schlitz, wood engraving, Lismore
- 2005 Sarah Bodman, Bookbinding, Lismore
- 2003 Camp Creative, Chinese Brush painting, Bellingen
- 2001 Six day Artsfest, life drawing, Grafton
- 2000 Six day Artsfest, life drawing, Grafton
Collections
- Southern Cross University Printmaking Department, Lismore
- Leisha McMenamin, Tweed River
- Janet & Russel Simmons, South West Rocks
- Wolfgang Decker, Germany
- Sue Gorrell, Bellingen
Volunteer Work
- 2007 Kids Bookmaking workshop, Barratt galleries, Alstonville
- 2007 Conference given to the Ceramic Group about Printmaking, Coffs Harbour
- 2007 The Bunker Gallery, Coffs Harbour
- 2006 Nexus Community Gallery, Bellingen
- 2004 Global Carnival, Bellingen
