“Remembering Paradise is an ode to our precious earth; using places that have personal connection as my muse; Tasmania’s Freycinet National Park and Schouten Island, Point Addis and the low tide walk between Jan Juc and Bells Beach; I have juxtaposed two views of our earth. Painting the landscape as an arcadian ideal; redolent of a time and place when man had little impact on the earth and its atmosphere, a filtered view through trees toward paradise. With my own ‘backyard’ of the surf coast; at low tide with crumbling cliffs, chunks of rock as the perfect symbol of our earth as a dystopian relic; highlighting the threat of climate change on our fragile and precious environment in the age of Anthropocene.
I continue to explore my love for landscape from the edge of our land; always incorporating the ocean as part of my landscape view; our oceans now heavily polluted with our post consumer plastic waste need time for focus, action and mindful consideration to the link between the depth of time and our impact on earth. I find context in the sacred, solitude, mystery and beauty of nature to draw an awareness to of time, the shadows of life and the light of life; a time to reflect and remember our paradise.
Spending countless days immersing myself in these sacred landscapes, observing the changes in the ocean moods, the light on the mountains in distant view, the ever crumbling cliffs, the shimmer of the light as it plays on the sediment layers of the ever crumbling cliffs and evidence of life millions of years old preserved in their fragile layers; discovering new perspectives, feeling the hum of nature as it continues to strive; time for experiential reflection, and connection.
Considering the landscape from two perspectives helps break down the works into a metaphor for time and life’s fleeting and selfish realities that compound and impact our earth. I am drawn to landscapes that offer a sense of solitude, majesty, mystery, places that feel removed from the chaos of our current day; they offer a sacred experience; of which as humans crave for a sense of belonging and relief. Australia’s vast stretch of coast line; provide the perfect symbol to highlight the state of our earth climate change, anthropocene, humanity.
‘Time, has sped up, our impact has greatened, our lives are in control, we are so overly connected; yet completely out of control and disconnected.’
Observing the changes in the ocean moods, the ever shifting shadows and light on the cliffs, rocks, reef, granite boulders; the distant hills, the shimmer of light as it plays on the land and the crystal ocean; gives pause; remembering paradise.”
Painter and visual artist Ingrid Daniell lives on the Surf Coast of Victoria, where the land and seascapes that surround her inspire her work. Places that are close to her life and experiences are never far from her paintings – the rugged Surf Coast and Great Ocean Road; remote Australia and its many national parks; the coastline of New South Wales and East Coast Tasmania. Ingrid finds context in her painting by using the landscape as a metaphor for our fragile earth, the devastation of climate change and our human need to belong. Through her painting, she identifies the human and instinctive need to connect to the land, to the ocean, to a natural environment and the landscapes that make up our identity from the past, present and future. In many of her works Ingrid paints the landscape as an idyllic folk tale; redolent of a time and place when man had little impact. Through stylised and abstract form and symbolic paint gestures, Ingrid uses colour and a mix of textures; layering the canvas using shapes and colours in a warmth of texture and sheer to create magical, emotional landscapes.
With a Bachelor of Art in Textiles and Fashion (Hons, RMIT) majoring in Costume Design, Ingrid extends her love of colour, texture and drama, creating layers as she paints to build depth and dimension. Through her use of colour, she highlights the layers and form of the landscape shaped by weather and time.
Remembering Paradise runs April 19 – May 13. To see a full exhibition listing click here.