Makayla Staehr

Makayla Staehr
The Australian landscape: her beauty and her pain 2022
clay, ochre, metal and wire
Kardinia International College, VCE Studio Arts

Artist statement:

Drawing on inspiration from Tim Winton’s romanticized prose of the powerful and strong Australian landscape, this clay sculpture uses elements of colour and texture to celebrate Australia’s endemic beauty. Found ochre was used to pigment the clay into rich, natural tones as well as to create unique, organic patterns in each piece. In contrast, elements of time and negative space reference the latter half of the work’s title: her pain.

Feelings of urgency and hopelessness are conjured by depicting the clay pieces as if they were falling towards the ground, consequently communicating the narrative and subject matter of environmental degradation. Ultimately, this artwork aims to ignite a sense of appreciation for country within each member of the audience as well as to raise awareness to the ‘pain’ it endures and hopefully inspire change.