#426 Jewels in the Mist 1 | Anita West
Acrylic on linen
Height: 90cm. Width: 90cm.
On an early morning horse ride through Cunninghams Gap we rode along the top of a ridge line that was enveloped by a heavy mist. The view was obscured but the atmosphere was tranquil, and the Bellbirds had just begun their early morning song.
Most of us live within a moment of the Australian bush and as a culture we are learning to embrace her distinct earthiness, her subtle hues, chaotic rhythms, ravaging bushfires and drought-breaking rains. We congregate around its edges and melt into its wild. We breathe in the majestic landscapes and immerse ourselves in its fierceness and beauty. And sometimes we silently watch as we see changes to this sacred landscape as a result of cronic land mismanagement, invasive introduced species, slow destruction of native habitats and the constant push for economic growth. I am interested in the idea of romantic notions attached to the Australian bush and I am attempting to explore the boundaries between abstraction and realism, emotion and perception through our engagement with this beautiful land.
More information about the artist