Plants form the central language of this exhibition, acting as vessels for the human journey. The work explores themes of endurance, presence, and emotional resonance, using botanical forms to reflect lived experience.
Working across charcoal drawing, stitched textiles, and photographic silk pieces, I examine the tension between strength and vulnerability. Stitching both interrupts and reinforces the surface — tracing, holding, and at times repairing the image. Layered fabrics, appliqué, and mark-making create tactile works that carry a sense of weight and accumulation.
The flowers themselves hold particular significance. Each carries an associated meaning — often linked to empathy, memory, or quiet emotional states. These symbolic readings offer a gentle counterpoint to the physicality of the work, inviting a more intimate engagement.
Together, the works move between observation and embodiment, surface and depth. They suggest that human experience is layered and evolving, shaped by connection, memory, and time — held within forms that are both grounded and expressive.
About the Artist
Barbara Dawson’s art practice is inspired by her deep connection to place and the natural rhythms of time. She explores themes of transformation, fragility, and renewal—finding quiet beauty in ageing and change, and reflecting the balance between inner and outer worlds. After studying visual arts at the ANU School of Art, Barbara taught for many years in Canberra before settling in Jervis Bay. She has exhibited widely since 1998 in both solo and group exhibitions, and her work has received awards and recognition within the region’s vibrant arts community, where she continues to live, create, and draw inspiration from her surroundings.
Images
(L) Held Together (detail), (R) Rooted in Air (work in progress) (detail) by Barbara Dawson.
(L) Gathering Time (detail), (R) Threaded Life (work in progress) (detail) by Barbara Dawson.
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