TWO exhibitions, one exploring the intersection of art and activism and the other creatively reflecting on important contemporary challenges of climate change, opened at the Auburn Peacock Gallery on Saturday
Curated by emerging curator Natasha Welde, ‘The Greta Effect’ in Gallery 2 features works by local artists Abhijit Choudhry, Aisyah Haris, Anthea Feilen, Iffat Nonee, Irena Conomos, Jacqueline Olivetti, Lux Eterna, Matt Jones and Svetlana Panov, which critically highlight the climate crisis.
In Gallery 1, ‘Painting Flowers’ is a collaboration between artist Amani Haydar and muralist Ms Saffaa who together have created a series of vibrant still lifes integrated into a mural.
Ms Haydar said the idea for the work was sparked when she wrote an article for the Arab Australian Other anthology which was published earlier this year along with a desire to challenge the idea that painting a still life was not a political art form.
“My idea was to explore the way that the world influences an artist’s practice,” she said.
“Every time we do art, we are being influenced by the world around and the events that are taking place, as well as our lived experiences, the news that we are consuming.”
Losing her mother to domestic violence at the hands of her father in 2015, she also wanted to make the works a tribute to women who have been affected by violence.
“We used a lot of native Australian flowers within the mural,” she said.
“They are able to withstand quite harsh environments which is quite symbolic I think of the way women can survive as well.”
Located at the Auburn Botanic Garden, on the corner of Chiswick and Chisholm Roads in Auburn, The Peacock Gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 4pm. Entry is free.
