It was wonderful to visit Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery to see the beautifully curated 2020 National Works on Paper exhibition! While I was there we filmed a short artist talk and recorded a podcast. Check out the links if you’d like to know a bit more about my practice, process and the inspiration behind my recent Endurance series.
ACT Legislative Assembly Art Collection
I’m thrilled that my work Undergrowth (Stockyard Spur) has been acquired for the ACT Legislative Assembly Art Collection!
Undergrowth (Stockyard Spur), 2020, watercolour monotype on paper, 168cm x 228cm, photo by Brenton McGeachie.
This 168cm x 228cm watercolour monotype was made in response to an oct 2019 Craft ACT and ACT Parks residency in Namadgi National Park, shortly before the 2020 fires. I walked up Stockyard Spur twice during the 10 day residency - a super steep, super rewarding route up Mt Gingera, through snow gums and mountain gums, in heavy fog and bright sun - I was fascinated by the complexity of the undergrowth immediately surrounding me. It seems fitting that the resulting work will remain here on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country, Canberra. It was first exhibited in late 2020 at Tuggeranong Arts Centre and then in the Megalo Print Studio online Members exhibition.
Winner - National Works on Paper
Thrilled and grateful to be named winner of the prestigious National Works on Paper (NWOP) $15,000 major acquisitive award, for my multi-paneled watercolour monotype Endurance 5.
The judges said: “Annika’s stunning work Endurance 5, saturated with gorgeous shades of ultramarine blue, captures the immersive majesty of the coastal landscape of Guerilla Bay. Imbued with personal memory, this powerful image slowly reveals a technical complexity embedded within its exquisite detail.”
You can watch the online launch here.
You can see all the finalists in the 2020 National Works on Paper until 21 February 2021 at Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery . Open 11am-4pm, Tuesday-Sunday. Free entry.
(Please note MPRG will be closed from 3pm Thursday 24 December until Saturday 2 January.)
photo by Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery
centre wall: Endurance 5, 2019, watercolour monotype on paper, 228cm x 168cm
'Double Vision: Corin Dam Residency' exhibition now open
Elizabeth Paterson and I opened our exhibition Double Vision: Corin Dam Residency this weekend at Tuggeranong Arts Centre (Canberra) with a beautiful musical response by Chris Stone. The exhibition continues until Dec 17. Elizabeth and I will give an artist talk in conversation with Brett McNamara, Manager of Namadgi National Park on Thurs 3rd Dec 6pm.
My work was inspired by walks up Stockyard Spur and Mt Gingera from Corin Dam during the CraftACT 2019 Spring Residency supported by ACT Parks. It also became about the changes I witnessed - from the Springtime residency (Oct 2019) to returning after the fires in the winter snow (Aug 2020). Meanwhile Elizabeth was interested in the importance of the Cotter catchment and tracked the water supply from the mountains down to our taps.
with my co-exhibitor Elizabeth Paterson, beside our respective works, at the opening of Double Vision: Corin Dam Residency
Fisher's Ghost Art Award win 🎉
I was honoured to be selected as winner of the 58th Fisher’s Ghost Art Award and grateful that my work ‘Verge 3’ has found a permanent home at Campbelltown Arts Centre.
The exhibition is open until 11th December with lots more fantastic work to see. There is also a virtual tour online if you’re not in the area.
In ‘Verge 3’ I layered pencil drawing over monotype ghost prints to create a sense of depth and shifting perspective, thinking back to kayaking and walking around the edge of Lake Victoria on Gunaikurnai Country in Gippsland with Dad. We encountered dramatic shoreline erosion near our camp at Emu Bight - precarious, steep walls of sand and uprooted trees. There was beauty to be found in the complexity of the exposed root structures, but when I looked into the cause of the erosion, it was due to increased salt levels in the lake following the late 19thC artificial opening to the sea at Lakes Entrance - a reminder of consequences and interconnectedness.
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