EXHIBITION: STAY CLOSE, I WILL NEVER FAIL YOU

The Tree of Life is an important motif in both Ancient Egyptian and Jewish belief, among many other cultures and traditions. According to Christianity, the Tree of Life grew in the Garden of Eden, while Charles Darwin also refers to it in The Origin of the Species. The latest individual to contribute to this chain of mythology is Kevina-Jo Smith, a Sydney-based artist who is fascinated by the idea of a protective canopy which shelters and nourishes all life.

Stay Close, I Will Never Fail You weaves nostalgia, escapism, discovery and utopia through representations of Australian flora and fauna. “I am going a bit Australian at the moment,” Smith explains. “I am constantly trying to fill my memory bank with leaf shapes and textures, but I’ve been noting how Australian natives are so on par with uniqueness and intrigue. We have some of the most inspiring and beautiful plants.” Texture and detail are of principal importance in these highly tangible works, which are painstakingly handmade: knitting, weaving, braiding, knotting, drawing, painting, carving, machine sewing and hand sewing all feature.

Smith’s concerned with conserving and sustaining nature is also evident in this body of work. Most materials used are natural or recycled, and nothing unused is ever thrown away. The works themselves are intended to be reused, and have a function wherever possible: nothing is ever labelled as ‘useless’. This concern also materialises on a more symbolic level, and the Australian flora and fauna superhero outfits included in this exhibition are a gesture of of the artist’s desire to shelter and nourish.

As a distinctly Australian re-imagining of the Tree of Life, Stay Close is a plea for the recognition and protection of our unique natural landscape. Smith draws our attention to the words of Frank Lloyd Wright: “Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.”

 June 12-27. Opening June 12, 6-9pm. Black & Blue Gallery, blackandbluegallery.com.au