Prestigious Perth exhibition features emerging Federation University artist
Works of art created in the wake of the 2024 Gippsland storm, which devastated parts of Mirboo North and surrounding areas, are being featured in the prestigious exhibition Hatched: National Graduate Show alongside the work of emerging artists from across the country.
Federation University Australia visual arts student Karen Zipkas is one of just 23 artists invited to take part in the exhibition, which showcases outstanding graduates from across Australia, at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts until 5 October.
Karen’s work documents the destruction of a beloved local forest and focuses on ‘solastalgia’ – a term used to describe a feeling of distress as a result of ecological loss from the impacts of climate change.
In an attempt to process her grief and despair, Karen modified a box trailer to produce a large mobile camera obscura and towed the trailer to forested areas destroyed by the storm.
From within the moving camera obscura, video footage recorded the stripped forests creating blurred, inverted and intensely moody scenes, while from within the dark of the closed obscura, she painted the reflected images upon a continuous paper scroll and then documented them digitally.
“This became a meditative and healing experience, allowing me to process the overwhelm of a destroyed and beloved landscape,” Karen said.
“Being immersed in near total darkness, the mark making, and paint strokes over the reflected image were intuitive and abstract almost as if attempting to stroke the devastated landscape back to life.”
Accompanying the obscura body of work are expressionist large-scale mixed media drawings of the flensed and upended trees from the forest.
Sculptures made of glass, concrete and steel respond to the pressure of ongoing capitalist expansion and the impact of urbanisation.
“In a nation where deep love of environment is embedded in our cultural psyche, I hope these works resonate with the audience, triggering a pause to reflect on what it might feel like living in a world utterly devoid of nature,” Karen said.
“It is extremely gratifying to have a number of my works selected for the Hatched show and the entire process preparing for the event and the support I’ve received from lecturer Julie Reed Henderson was integral, allowing me to experience the contemporary art world in situ, giving me the impetus to continue making art as a serious and professional endeavour.”
“Talking about my work with gallery visitors on opening night gave me confidence and valuable positive feedback. I also had the opportunity to design family activities based on the themes of my work which will run the length of the exhibition.”
Federation University Arts Academy Director, Professor Rick Chew said the University was incredibly proud of Karen’s achievements.
“The Hatched show is one of the most prestigious platforms for emerging artists across the country and Karen’s selection is a testament to her dedication to this body of work and her studies,” Professor Chew said.
The Hatched: National Graduate Show will be held at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts until 5 October. Karen’s work will then be showcased to local audiences, moving to the Latrobe Regional Gallery from late October 2025.