Tariro Art Exhibition

The Tariro Art Exhibition was held in order to raise awareness and fund for the not-for-profit organization Aussie Books for Zim. Over the years, Aussie Books for Zim has been rescuing tens of thousands of books from going to landfill and using them to set up libraries and literacy programs in rural communities in Zimbabwe.

Three of my artworks were exhibited during the art exhibitions, wall hanging titled Captured Love, a sculpture titled ‘Second Chance’ and an installation sculpture. ‘Second Chance’ was auctioned off as a fundraiser for the cause.

‘Captured Love’, 2019.

Mediums; Fabric including wet and needle felted wool felt 100 x 60 cm $450 (available)

This piece was created as a representation of the love shown to me after my mum passed away though flowers. Rather than letting the flowers simply wilt, I pressed them and began an artwork. The flowers and leaves can be seen captured within the fabric alongside my thoughts written during this time. The artwork is a culmination of processes including felting, free motion machine embroidery and was created with many tears and evolves and also depicts the transition from grief to remembering joyous occasions and the hope of a new unimagined future.

‘Second Chance’, 2019

Mediums; Steel wire and rescued book pages from a damaged book, wax, metallic thread, aluminum drink cans 40 x 30 cm Sold at auction

This piece was created using a damaged book destined to be thrown away. It is my own interpretation of a lantern similar to those used in the Japanese light festival Tōrō nagashi to transport the souls of those loved ones who had passed away into another life. By stretching the book pages to their materialistic limits, I have created something new that explores the fragility and delicacy of life. The traditional visual representations of sadness and grief the teardrop shape features heavily throughout the piece, although they remain well camouflaged and work alongside the design to transition into something new and beautiful.

Tairiro - Journey of Hope

28 September - 12 October 2019
Big Fat Smile Gallery
1/98 Railway St, Corrimal, NSW 2518, Australia