Vanessa Erkes, Lightness of being

Description

Cyanotype, cotton, plant dye, pine, 155 x 425 mm

Life is born and rises from the earth. Just like nature, with growth we may learn to embrace the good and bad, twisting and turning through memories, places, and navigating the complexities of the conscious human experience. I contemplate on how our thoughts and feelings may relate to nature, where visually subtle work may hold deep meaning and thought. My practice is a reminder to be mindful and present with the land and thus myself, to heal and grow alongside each other.

As a Taranaki born artist I spend time connecting with the land and sharing knowledge with those I meet. My practice explores natures connection to the human experience and spiritual ideologies, employing eco-friendly and foraged materials as this aligns to my personal ethos; to nurture nature

is to nurture others and oneself. By working with cyanotype and plants on recycled material, the nature of the process requires complete presence. Capturing the properties of each plant comes intuitively, knowing that each

outcome will be unique and as beautiful as the changes in the environment and movement of the setting sun.