In Domestic Connected, I explore issues of identity, community, and place. Having recently relocated from the mainland to Tasmania, I am drawn to the authenticity and beauty of Tasmania, feeling a profound connection to its people and natural landscapes. However, my heart remains tethered to the mainland where my family resides, and this separation and duality of belonging evokes conflicting emotions of guilt and peace, prompting me to question the essence of home and identity.
The work is a poster created through iterations of photo emulsion screen printing and collage. Through a playful and explorative approach with detritus travel material I aim to evoke the tension between my connection to Tasmania and the mainland. I delve into this interplay by integrating recognisable travel graphics and interpretative text in the form of cinquain poetry, expressing my emotional connection to Tasmania. By the manipulation and obscuration of text, I encourage the viewer to delve into the artwork and consider the layers of meaning. The use of detritus travel material symbolises my constant movement between Tasmania and the mainland, embodying a sense of humility in its materiality. The weaving and multiple layering of elements is a metaphor for the complexity of the human experience.
I draw inspiration from Kameelah Janan Rasheed’s exploration of materiality and legibility of text, challenging viewers to spend time unpacking complex ideas. Additionally, Robert Rauschenberg's experimentation with screen printing and collage, and Rosalie Gascoigne's inventive manipulation of materials, also inspire my work.
My materials and techniques underwent a process of experimentation, iteration, and ideation. While I faced occasional frustration navigating this unfamiliar process, it has broadened my understanding of printmaking's exploratory potential, prompting new approaches to my practice. With a move to North Hobart next month, I am eager to delve deeper into the nuanced interplay between text and image, drawing inspiration from Wendy Murray's work, to further explore issues of identity, community and place.
Rachel Wolfe
12 April 2024
Rachel Wolfe is an emerging artist based in Hobart, Tasmania, currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Tasmania. With a diverse and evolving practice, Rachel explores various mediums and techniques to create captivating and thought-provoking works of art. To explore Rachel's latest projects and artistic journey, visit her website www.rachelwolfe.com.au or follow her on social media.
Domestic Connected, a Reflective Artist Statement was written for assessment, Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Tasmania
FSD216 Drawing and Printmaking 2A: Assessment Task 1 - Resolved Work in Response to a Brief
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