By KATRINA BRANDON

 

 

SOMETIMES indifference brings things together.

​A new exhibition has opened its doors at arc Yinnar.

Yinnar artists Kat Kershaw and Amanda Thompson have launched Incongruent, Two Dimension Tango, an exhibition that pairs nature and industrial sites.

As a long-time member of arc, Ms Kershaw said she wanted to dislay her art. Ms Kershaw told the Express that, because the gallery space was so large, she asked Ms Thompson to join her.

“Amanda and I’ve been friends for quite a while, and all I did was ask her if she wanted to be in the show together, because I know her work, she knows mine,” Ms Kershaw said.

This year, Ms Kershaw visited Sri Lanka, where she created some of the works that are on show.

Some of Ms Thompson’s work was in development or completed well before the exhibition. Ms Thompson does woodcuts, takes photographs and completes different pieces, with some about construction.

“She takes photos of what she is planning, and then she kind of does it,” Ms Kershaw said.

Ms Thompson photographs burnt-out vehicles near or in plantations. These pieces are part of her collection Badlands.

After photographing the cars, Ms Thompson turns them into woodcuts and printing plates.

Ms Thompson and Ms Kershaw both participate in arc’s printmaking sessions almost weekly on Sundays, with Ms Thompson visiting even more.

“The print room of art has created a community, and I think it helps us,” she said.

Working together in the print room, Ms Kershaw said she enjoys working with Ms Thompson, who often helps her or offers suggestions when prints don’t quite work out.

When Ms Kershaw isn’t printing, she said that while she is out of the studio, she chooses watercolours because they are more immediate and less messy than printing.

“I have got a little press at home. But I’m so messy that I prefer to do it here because you’ve got the space,” Ms Kershaw said.

“You really need a dedicated space for printing because you need a clean space and a dirty space, which I don’t really have at home. I do a lot of watercolours at home, and I just started doing some acrylic painting last year, and I’m going to do some oils.”

Making a comeback to art, Ms Kershaw said she spent some time away, living through everyday moments. Now back in the game, she especially enjoys her work with arc.

Ms Kershaw’s fascination with art began at age 10, when her parents gave her a ‘How to Draw’ kit for Christmas. Even before then, Ms Kershaw said her parents had seen her creative mind early in childhood.

“Since Grade 2, I did this project where we had to do zoo animals. Instead of them being flat on a piece of paper, I had done it so they stood up,” she said.

“Mum said I kept that for a long time, but I remember thinking, ‘the creativity just got me in; I could think outside of things a bit, but still have something lovely and beautiful’. I have always sort of had that skill or love.”

Incongruent, Two Dimension Tango runs until October 25.