Helga Groves

Helga Groves
Australian, born 1961; lives and works in Melbourne

Patterns from the heart of a planet 2019
iridescent oil paint, wax and medium on linen
Courtesy of the artist and Sutton Gallery, Melbourne

Artist statement:

Patterns from the heart of a planet belongs to a series of abstract paintings extending my exploration of geophysical processes and geological time, informed by first-hand observation of global museum specimens and practice-led research to significant geological sites.

This painting focuses on Widmanstätten patterns found in iron meteorites, that were formed in the core of asteroids resulting from a cooling process spanning millions of years. The long nickel-iron crystal structures are revealed as interleaving bands. The painting suggests the visual depth of these patterns, captured through metallic tones and harnessed within the formal structure of a grid. These colliding fragments recall meteorites as survivors of planetary evolution over 4.5 billion years, preserving the memory of our solar system.