Visiting artist vows to protect natural beauty
SINCE arriving in August from Barcelona as an artist in residence at Tanks Arts Centre, Carme Dapena has been exceptionally busy.
Ms Dapena, now Inkmasters’ newest member, is a distinguished artist from Barcelona with degrees in art, paper conservation and education.
The exhibitions express her continuing concerns about the relations between humanity and nature and how to protect it in the face of climate change.
“Pure nature is what moves me to create,” she said.
“The motivation for my two different colours by undergoing a colour change in certain lighting conditions,” she said.
“This glass was carefully selected as it shows luminosity of the colour. The overlapping of glass creates interesting sculptural effects.” work here has been my contemplation and admiration for the magnificent North Queensland environment, in particular its butterflies.
“My next project will include the precious birds and other insects, the lush plant life and superb corals.”
Yesterday, Ms Dapena launched her third exhibition of works, Concerns about the Beauty of Nature, created in Cairns, at Caffiend, Grafton St.
The winning artwork took many weeks of planning, selecting the right colours, choice of glass and height of the sculpture.
Deanna studied art and sculpture at RMIT University, Melbourne under Jack Louitt, a master weaver influenced by
She has delivered watercolour workshops at Tanks and on October 12-13, she will give an etching workshop at Inkmasters, 55 Greenslopes Street.
Her artworks she says, “are a personal way of connecting with others to increase their awareness of our priceless environment and the urgent need to be conscious of its protection.”
Her background as a restorer, painter and engraver ensures a connection with traA the Marquis of Bute and Gobelin Artelier, France.
In her long career, she mastered tapestry, one of the oldest forms of woven textile crafts created on a vertical loom.
She produced several woven woollen sculptural tapestries using earthy colours arranged ditional printmaking techniques, but at the same time encourages research into new ideas and possibilities.
At Inkmasters Print Workshop Ms Dapena experimented with aluminium and copper plates using non-toxic etchants.
Some of the resulting works use a mix of etching techniques and recycled plates.
Ms Dapena said the series within the Caffiend show ‘After the devastation’ is particularly meaningful. “When the plate is absolutely reduced and looks as if nothing else can be done with it, printing again with just one ink can revive it to again express the beauty of nature,” she said. in a contemporary style.
She undertook commissions for fellow Australian artists such as Leonard French, John Olsen, Clifton Pugh, Frank Werther, John Corburn and Tibor Hubay.
Deanna is also recorded in the Encyclopaedia of Austra
THE MOTIVATION FOR MY WORK HERE HAS BEEN MY CONTEMPLATION AND ADMIRATION FOR THE MAGNIFICENT NORTH QUEENSLAND ENVIRONMENT