‘CHROMA’ at ART GALLERY on Darling

Chroma, a fascinating new solo exhibition by resident artist, Marie Schlederer opens this week

The gallery will be home to a unique new body of work by Marie Schlederer for the next two weeks. Chroma will be showing from 11th to 21st May, with opening drinks tomorrow, on Wednesday 10th May from 6:00 to 8:00pm. The paintings in Chroma are a spectacular combination of paint and crystals with a particularly interesting back story. We asked Marie to explain the inspiration, the process and the stories behind her latest work.

How and when did you start making art?

On leaving school I studied graphic design and photography, I was intoxicated with the idea of how imagery could change our perspective and followed my dream to change the world into advertising. After a while that passion subsided and an urge to be creative and paint came back.  For over ten years now I have been studying and exploring my craft as an artist and now a gallery director.

Please describe the work in your forthcoming solo show…    

The work in my forthcoming show is really different to what I have created previously in my colour field works. The ideas and mark making I have explored in the ‘Chroma’ body of work are something that has been simmering away in the back of my mind for a while but I have never had the time to follow it through. Having allowed myself to play with the serendipity of the marks of the paint and ink, the works have meditative and infinite presence about them.

And tell us what is unique about these new paintings?

The structural patterns of the new marks has also allowed me to incorporate another love of mine – crystals and crystal grids. Many of my early colourfield works were inspired by the multi faceted colours found in crystals as light refracts through and around them. I often tried to capture the essence of these crystals and their colour, including metaphysical and vibrational qualities, in my artworks. In this new body of work I wanted to share the beauty and fascination I have with crystals by incorporating crystal grids into the artworks. These are specific patterns or arrangements of crystals to channel and focus the Universal energy for a distinct purpose.

I have chosen individual crystals for their specific shape, colour and metaphysical properties to create crystal grids which add a new dimension to the artworks. They include clear quartz and dark smoky quartz points, white turquoise and pink cherry quartz chips, natural green fluorite and pink tourmaline.

How would you describe your artwork?

My art making process and content is constructed in layers which reveal and conceal past marks, colours and shapes. These transparent layers create a visual story and the essence of each piece. While my marks are lucid, fluid and organic, their purpose is to make art works that are limitless and forever giving pleasure, captivating many of our senses, not just our eyes.

I see humans as vibrational beings with a multitude of senses. Sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch are our well-known physical senses, but we are all in one way or another, also familiar with other concepts, such as our ‘sixth sense’. Whether we realise it or not, we have the ability to detect through other ‘senses’ such as vibration, balance, pain, emotion, temperature and many more, all of which together shape our perceptions. While creating art I use all of these senses, as well as intention, to give the viewer an experience to tap into, which may or may not be similar to mine.

What does making art mean to you?

The process and creation of art for me is an emotional, spiritual, physical and chemical reaction to my vibrational being. For as long as I can remember, even as a small child, being creative, drawing, painting, making mud pies and daydreaming was all I wanted to do. I still remember the excitement of possibilities when I received my first set of coloured pencils.

What has been your art career highlight to date?

That’s a hard question to answer! I have been fortunate to have had many successful shows in Australia and overseas. However I must say that I’m very excited about my current body of work appearing in my solo exhibition ‘Chroma’ at ART GALLERY on Darling. I have created something that I am incredibly proud of and really excited to share.

What do you enjoy about being a resident artist at ART GALLERY on Darling? 

There is something special about being a resident artist of AGOD. Everyday I am surrounded by many talented individuals who create amazing art and follow their passions, which inspires me to keep creating amazing work myself.

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