Thank you to the City of Melbourne for funding me with a Covid 19 Quick Response Grant. In amongst the delirium of isolation I have been busy creating a video which will premiere online with an accompanying artists talk in mind-June. Please stay posted as anyone in the world will be able to attend this online event.

I warmly welcome you to my upcoming exhibition

I have arrived at the seventh art, cinema, a new space where distinct elements can be combined: sound, motion, image, potentially virtual reality.
 
For the last few months I have been collaborating with Cian Holt on The Treasure Hunt, an exploratory work exploring the cultural impact of mining in Western Australia. This is my first experience at making a truly collaborative work and our first attempt at a film.

The Three Great Gods in the Sky (2017)

There seems to be a strong focus amongst Perth artists on landscape and place, something natural given the problematic colonial history and the uncomfortable feeling that Perth is, or at least until recently has been, a culturally uninteresting, socially conservative place and certainly not a place where art is appreciated, and so it is best to move to Melbourne. There have been a string of mining booms throughout Western Australia’s history which have been influential on the local culture, both directly and indirectly making us who we are today

As the figure depicted above looks out over the marshes, up at the Three Great Gods in the Sky, is she questioning the future, asking for guidance? are the gold objects in the basket an offering or have they been stolen? Is it a guilty glance towards the looming gods, or an act of defiance? Why the cape? Is this our hero or is it our villain?

Below is a short film I made on the sheer terror of existence. Make sure you turn up the volume.

Macica (2017) 10cm x 17 cm, Raku-fired Ceramic

Below are some photos from the Raku-firing process, which is a technique of placing glazed ceramics in a kiln for a relatively short period (approximately 1.5 hours) and then throwing them mercilessly into sawdust, which creates interesting patterns and textures.

Unexpected Encounters in the Desert (2017) 30 x 40 cm Metal Etching on Paper

I have finished another semester at TAFE. I particularly enjoyed my printmaking course, this time learning both intaglio and relief printmaking techniques. The print above has been created using a metal etching technique. A metal plate is coated with bitumen, then a design is scratched into it to and the plate is placed in acid. The acid eats into the exposed metal where the bitumen has been scratched away, thus etching lines. Larger tonal surfaces can be achieved by a similar technique of painting bitumen onto the plate. To create the print, ink is rubbed into the plate and it is then placed facing upwards on the press, with wet paper placed over it, before running it through the printing press. This technique is known as “intaglio” printmaking.

Lost and Found | An Exhibition by Carolina Arsenii

Carolina Arsenii’s solo exhibition Lost and Found presents a series of aporias encountered by figures in contradictory spaces. Through composition, colour and pattern, the works create an internal dialogue between characters, objects and landscapes. The figures that populate the landscapes at times appear in multiplicities, at times oblivious to phenomena outside of their sphere and their subconscious discourse with it, at times to their own agency. Landscapes are strewn with precious objects, fabulous plants, an idealised yet sinister space, often watched over by familiar edifices. Works within Lost and Found seek to explore different aspects of interconnectedness between self and world, and hence the complexity of the situations in which these figures seem to find themselves.

All are most welcome to my upcoming exhibition, which is open to the public.
Opening Night: Friday 23 June 2017, 6:30pm
Opening Times: Saturday 24 June 2017 – Thursday 29 June 2017 (11am – 6pm)
Location: City Arts Space, cnr James and Lake Street under the big screen, Perth, Western Australia
Further Information: https://www.facebook.com/events/135991480283191

It’s gold and glittery…

Go West (2017) 19 x 27 cm, Woodblock Print and Posca Paint Marker on paper

I have been entered the fantastic world of woodblock printing. The print above depicts my hometown Perth, Western Australia. I have added  topographical lines and golden shading to the printed image using posca paint markers.

I initially intended to use the woodblock below for the topographical patterns, but found that due to the thickness of the lines it works better as a separate image.

Large ink paintings exploring themes of water and identity.

Un Buen Augurio ( A Good Omen)

I am taking great delight in my ceramics course and creating some 3-dimensional archetypes with clay. The “Good Omen” heralds the birth of a new artistic direction and the coming of Easter.

The above images show porcelain ceramics which are drying prior to the initial bisque firing (1000 degrees) after which they will be glazed and then again fired to stoneware quality (1360 degrees). The archetypal individuals have been placed in archetypal arrangements: “the archetypal philosophy circle” and “the archetypal power struggle”.

Exciting things ahead this semester, including Lithography and Ceramics

Happy Chinese New Year. After a year of mischief from the monkey, the time has come for good fortune and prosperity in the form of a Rooster.

Happy Chinese New Year 2017 25 x 21 cm, Pen Pencil and Gouache on Paper

Pen and Gouache on paper 21 x 25 cm

Matilda Bay, Perth, Western Australia (2015) Acrylic on Canvas 120cm x 90cm

I have been chosen as a finalist for the Town of Claremont Art Awards. Exhibition Dates: 20 August – 28 August 2016 in the Claremont Quarter, top floor

Suburban Landscape (if you live in a house – the house will not fall)

“Suburban Landscape” 81 x 65 cm Mixed Media on canvas. On display at the City of Belmont Community Art Exhibition over the next two weeks.

DISSECTIONS

An exhibition of Drawings and Paintings by Carolina Arsenii.
OPENING NIGHT 1 February 2016 at 6PM
THE BIRD 181 William St, Northbridge, Western Australia 6003

https://www.facebook.com/events/1089521187735432/

https://www.facebook.com/events/1089521187735432/

The Salsa Party (2015) Acrylic on Canvas, 25 x 25 cm

These shady characters should be familiar to anyone who does do some sort of social dancing. This painting is the smallest I have ever done (25.5 x 25.5 cm).

Look for the dancing feline at the Beaufort street festival

I will be trying to make a profit from my art, by selling it, at the Beaufort Street Festival, this 14 November 2015 in Perth. Similar endeavours have been undertaken by countless artists over the centuries and in most cases lead to failure (to make any money). Despite the unlikelihood of a profitable day, I am using this as an occasion to work on some smaller drawings and show them off on the day.

Below is my little drawing triptych “think good thoughts” inspired by the Zoroastrian creed “think good thoughts, speak good words, do good deeds”….

Think good thoughts

My painting Paisley Fantasy, which is currently being exhibited at the Bayswater Art Awards until 18 October 2015 at

The RISE
28 Eighth Ave, MAYLANDS
Monday to Sunday: 10:00am – 4:00pm

This is a painting of a dear friend of mine, who has left Perth to travel to fascinating lands where these paisleys originate from. Interestingly they  call this one “estampado de bacteria” or “bacteria print” in Spanish. They also call it “Cachemira” referring to the geographic area of Kashmir. Naturally the origins of this design are disputed.

http://www.heritageinstitute.com/zoroastrianism/trade/paisley.htm

Painting “Cottesloe” a Finalist in the Claremont Art Award 2015
Exhibition open 13 September 2015 to 25 September 2015
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
308 Stirling Highway, Claremont