Still-life: scenes from my pantry

I started painting items from my pantry during COVID-19 to lighten the mood and feel connected to my community. My pantry consists of alternative milk and teas that reflect the inner-west community in Sydney and our attempt to control the choices we make in our daily lives. Exploring this issue within the home seemed relevant as the restrictions were enforced on us, and we had to make do with what we had at home. As we saw people baking bread and digging up crafts from the past, I similarly brought out my acrylics and purchased framed boards delivered to my door online. The convenience of the digital world went beyond ordering online. I used social media to connect with the world. I regularly posted these little pantry vignettes on Instagram, enjoying the idea that at least two hundred people are looking at my work.

I painted in intense, vivid colours with blocks of colour and texture. I was interested in the packages' typography and design formats, rendering the details and analyzing the design process. I tried out different compositional styles, which attests to the playful and experimental way in which I approached these works. This contrasts my usual charcoal and ink drawings and printmaking etchings that explore deeper emotions and are prone to analysing my inner darkness. What I’m searching for is truth and honesty. Working in colour is a remedy for the pervasive night in my life. It’s like having a spoonful of medicine, an elixir — a temporary relief from the darkness.