Amelia Rowe can be heralded as a leading light amongst the galaxy of artistic talent that seems to flow from the eternal soul of Tasmania. If the passing clouds of fiscal and political uncertainty depress you look up at the inspirational creativity that surrounds us and rejoice.
Amelia Rowe: University of Tasmania Residency
by Len Langan
Art is by nature restless, provocative and controversial. It cannot stand still. Amelia’s work explores her own creativity whilst challenging our inner beings to probe our minds and be at peace with the Universe around us. In her work we are reminded that the life cycle is not only wonderful but in itself eternal – constantly re-birthing beauty from decay. At a still deeper level we come to realise this beauty from a new aspect with a conviction that mother Nature knows best. We can so easily gaze at the stars and forget the flowers at our feet.
One does not need to ask Amelia Rowe about her religious convictions for her talent excludes the jealous God of the Old Testament and calls our attention to His ability to see every sparrow that falls to the earth. Her art is full of love and expressive of sorrow but not in any way morbid or depressing. It tells us perhaps, that beauty existed and will exist again in a never ending cycle.
Amelia Rowe artwork
No wonder that she has won the University of Tasmania Rosamond McCulloch Studio Residency that will see her spending four months in Paris with the Cite’ Internationale des Arts.
One warms to Amelia’s creative personality almost instantly in the almost certain knowledge that she will continue to make creative waves in the world of Tasmanian and International Art.
Amelia Rowe artwork
Amelia Rowe will exhibit at the Brave Gallery in Longford during the Longford Bicentennial Celebration opening on Saturday March 2nd.
Please note: no animals were killed or harmed by Amelia Rowe for the purpose of creating her art. Details for the images (supplied by Amelia Rowe)…
- Glasshouses (detail)
mixed media
size variable
2013
Inspired by Curiosity Cabinets and museum specimens
- Good girls don’t bark, (poodle)
steel, primer, enamel paint
190 x 100 x 217 cm
2012
This topiary inspired work appeared at Velo Winery during
the Artentwine festivities organised by the West Tamar Arts Group
- Untitled (lambs on pink) detail
freeze dried lamb foetuses, acrylic paint
size variable
2012
- Bestway
freeze dried calf foetus, wire, recipes
size variable
2011
The calf foetus was a victim of a severe Tasmanian drought in 2008.
The floral wreath is made from selected pages of Mother’s recipe
book, which contained cooking ideas utilising the whole beast
- Hope
taxidermied mouse and sparrow, quail skull and mixed media
size variable
2011
This little creature was awarded first place in the Inveresk Green
Precinct Art Prize
- Canine Flora Abunda
mixed media
130 x 75 x 120 cm
2010
First appeared at Sculpture on the riverbank at Iron Pot Bay Wines,
2010. More recently appearing at Amelia’s solo exhibition Just the
shock, curated by Malcom Bywaters at NEW Gallery, 2013
- Amelia putting the finishing touches on the sculpture:
Dancing goat
mixed media
255 x 110 cm
2009
Dancing goat was created for Bachelor of Contemporary Arts
portfolio. (Amelia was awarded First Class Honours)
The goat first appeared in a specially designed ‘music box’.
This was a small mirror lined room, where the goat slowly
rotated to a distorted recording of Swan Lake
- Amelia photographing sculpture:
Don’t touch.
mixed media
105 x 55 x 135 cm
2009
A personal narrative inspires this work, the time when
our large standard poodle became a surrogate mother
to an orphan chick
- Bunny Crow
Taxidermied crow and rabbit, glass eyes, polymer clay
2008
This hybrid was specimen included in a work called From inside
the cabinet: futuristic wonders, in the exhibition Come to life at
the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (Royal Park) 2012
Len Langan lives in Longford with his wife Jill. They are both passionate about Tasmanian heritage and tourism and things that can be done in this industry. Len writes about Tasmanian history for both The Courier in Longford and the magazine Sagacity, and works with Virtuosi taking music to rural areas.
If you like this article about Tasmania, and you’d like to read more, just subscribe to our newsletter or join us on social media via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram. If you really like this article, and you want others to see it, you can choose one of the “share” options below. We’d love that!
Comments relevant to this article are always most welcome, just leave a reply below. But first… please confirm the date of this article. Have you found something current, or is this ancient information? Either way, thanks for your company and come back again soon.
