DON’T miss the last week of two remarkable exhibitions at the Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery.
Touring from the Shrine of Remembrance is the moving and fascinating exhibition Changed Forever: Legacies of Conflict.
Artworks, including paintings, drawings, sculptures and audio visuals hang alongside touching photographs of families and defence force personnel, all impacted by the ravages of war, terrorism, and for many, the heartache and anguish of seeking asylum, incarcerated for the cruellest of terms – indefinite.
One of the most profound realisations for me, as put by the many poignant interviews and stories of former Australian Defence Force personnel and refugees, is the extraordinary complexity of the politics and conflict on the ground.
And, that how in a country such as ours, far removed from immediate danger and only really seen through the lens of the 24 hour news cycle, there may well be a convenience in simplifying the deep and troubled stories for the benefit of audiences.
There are, however, stories of hope, survival and freedom, political freedom and if not freedom then at least management of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
A disorder that is affecting more people than we could ever imagine.
Appin South resident Emma Samin is an artist with an eye for detail.
Centric is a collection of 23 works on paper that literally draw the viewer in closer and closer to discover the smallest of marks made.
These intricate mandala inspired designs are yet another fine example of art making as a mindfulness tool.
A meditative process resulting in a mesmerising outcome.
Changed Forever: Legacies of Conflict and Centric – Emma Samin end May 15.
