It was all about perspective at the opening of The Foundry Arts Space’s most recent exhibition, Same Country, Different Interpretations.
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The exhibit, featuring artists Judy Hutchins and Elaine Van Dyk, was about how their backgrounds and personal experiences influence how each sees and interprets the Australian landscape.
Ms Hutchins said it was great to do the show alongside an artist like Ms Van Dyk.
“It’s always hard when you work with another artist to try and have work that gels with the other artist’s work,” she said.
“Luckily, even though we create totally different results, we both approach (art) from a very emotional point of view.
“I mean, my work is solely from within me. It’s not what I’m seeing so much as what I’m feeling. Even though she works slightly differently, I think Elaine has a similar way of approaching her work.”
Of all her work in the show, it was one called The Storm that Ms Hutchins was most proud to have on show.
“You see those big skies and the bright land, and I think it just resonates with a lot of people. To me, that storm coming could mean a lot of things. It doesn’t necessarily have to mean a literal storm,” she said.
For Ms Van Dyk, picking just one piece as a favourite in the show is too hard. She did, however, point to a recurring image in much of her work.
“I just try to depict how I feel and what’s important to me. In a lot of my work, grass trees are featured, and they’re quite significant to me,” she said.
“I see them as ancient wise people, and so I’ve got a lot of them featured in my artwork, and I’ll continue doing it.”
She said it had been excellent to do the show with her fellow artist, Ms Hutchins, whom she’s known for some time.
“We used to do workshops together, and I’d see her plan her stuff, but I never actually saw her work until she had an exhibition,” Ms Van Dyk said.
“I saw her work and thought, ‘Oh, we are on the same plane of thinking,’ and I just loved her pieces. I asked her if she wanted to do a joint exhibit, and she said yes.”
The exhibition opened at The Foundry Arts Space in Echuca last Friday, May 3. Both artists’ work will remain there until June 10.