Wonder-Lands

19 April 2006 - 27 May 2006

Wonder-Lands exhibition presents three Melbourne artists using mediums of textas, pencils and pastels to explore fantasy elements of their personal lives. The exhibition is presented at Arts Project Australia, a studio and gallery space based in Northcote.

Laura Sheehan employs texta to illustrate the members of her family and the characters from movies or stories that she adores such as The Wizard of Oz. Emersed in bold line and colour, her images, which also include flowers, can often border on abstraction, such is the mesh of detail she uses to render the familiar icons of her world.

The latest body of work by Maryanne Agius is inspired by reproductions of C.S.Lewis' famous story, Alice in Wonderland. Agius, who works in pencil, creates bold lines and blocks of colour, which mirror elements of the original fairytale characters as well as posing a new, contemporary feel courtesy of the rich, velvety quality of her surfaces.

Ruth Howard continues her fascination with animals in this show. Capturing birds and beasts non-figuratively through flat, brilliant colour, she alludes to their literal form rather than embellishing it. These semi abstract works capture the essence of her creatures.