Issue 808

Arts News

Between Earth and Sea

Brisbane-based artist Patricia Harper currently has a new exhibition on show at the Southern Cross University Art Museum, entitled Menacing Delicacies.

Originally a marine biologist, Patricia soon realised she was more interested in the textures, colours and patterns of the underwater world than in the scientific research.

In 1996, Patricia completed a masters in visual arts at Griffith University, primarily in photographic art practice.

Brisbane-based artist Patricia Harper currently has a new exhibition on show at the Southern Cross University Art Museum, entitled Menacing Delicacies.

'The zone where land and ocean, or land and air, meet often inspires my art and craftwork,' Patricia said. '...I am arrested by the overlooked. This includes invertebrates such as sea anemones, tunicates and sponges. On land, I pause to concentrate on piles of paper, a rotting papaya, vessels, desiccated cacti or floor tiles in public toilets.'

Brisbane-based artist Patricia Harper currently has a new exhibition on show at the Southern Cross University Art Museum, entitled Menacing Delicacies.

Patricia's new exhibition is largely photographic, with each image enlarged so the viewer can see the fine details. Many of the images have also been made into collages.

'The exhibition is an exploration of the patterns you find in nature,' Southern Cross University Art Museum director, Kate Ravenswood, said. 'She has taken these evolutionary patterns and explored them in a visual way. In some of the artworks there is a disruption in the pattern and it's not continuous, which relates to the way things change and vary in nature.'

Menacing Delicacies will be opened today, February 28, at 5.30pm. Patricia will give an artist's talk between 4-5pm. The exhibition is on how until March 22.