Afternoon Natives

Concept

Belinda Nadwie creates abstract landscapes that traverse emotional, psychological and spiritual experience.

Working with oil paint, charcoal, spray paint and oil crayons, she captures a spectrum of moods – from quiet, melancholy moments of indigo and teal to swathes of Persian pink and saffron. The viewer can choose where they sit in this vast spectrum of emotion; whether they gravitate towards the darkness or the light.

The artist paints intuitively without preconception, each work reading like a painterly stream of consciousness, a reflection upon her inner world and the evocative tones of the Australian landscape. Her paintings capture a fleeting moment in time, portraying the mood and the inspiration of that particular moment of inspiration. The artworks come together spontaneously in a colourful union of light, colour and texture.

“Colour and balance are my passion,” says Nadwie. “My expressions are all feeling–based.”

Although the works are predominantly non-representational, there are moments in which physical landscapes manifest across the canvas.

“Inspiration comes from the way light and contrasts form over real, natural elements of the landscape around us. My artwork draws on what is real, and turns it around to reflect inwardly on the effects of light and darkness, moods, colours and thoughtfulness.”

Underscoring these reflections on the physical world around us, the artworks also draw on the artist’s experiences of motherhood and the maternal, nurturing instinct that binds mother with child. Soft light, playful shadows and gentle sounds are represented by pastels and whites , portraying innocence, joy and love while also channelling a sense of spirituality.

“Ultimately, my paintings symbolise the power of the mind in choosing a positive outlook despite what are often challenging circumstances in life. The works are energetic, and I like to think that my abstracts all have a sense of enduring optimism".