roots down under
‘Roots Down Under” explores my Australian identity through memories, landscapes, and moments that connect me to a place that feels like home. Using a consistent acrylic paint pastel color palette, I capture the warmth, calmness, and nostalgia I associate with Australia. Across the series, the ocean, beach, figures, and landscape become recurring symbols of my connection to the country. Together, the pieces explore how a place can shape identity and remain a part of you, even when you are far away.
Queensland Sun, 2026, acrylic, 10”x20”
“Queensland Sun” captures the Surfers Paradise skyline, beach, and figures resting along the shore. I used a soft pastel acrylic palette to reflect the warmth and peacefulness I associate with Australia's beaches. The small figures within the expansive landscape emphasize my personal relationship with the environment and the memories I have created there. Through the combination of people, architecture, and ocean, I wanted to capture a familiar part of my Australian identity.
Distance Between Us, 2026, acrylic, 10”x20”
“Distance Between Us” depicts six windows, each revealing figures living their own separate lives. Some windows contain a single figure, while others show two people, creating a sense of different stories unfolding simultaneously. The piece explores the idea of sonder, the realization that every person has a life, experiences, and moments of happiness as complex and meaningful as our own. The soft acrylic paint pastel palette creates a warm and peaceful atmosphere, suggesting a shared sense of contentment despite the separation between each window. Through these individual scenes, I wanted to capture the feeling of seeing life happening around you and recognizing the happiness that exists within each person’s world. This connects to my Australian identity through my memories of the people, community, and everyday moments that make Australia feel like home.
Above the Tide, 2026, acrylic, 10”x20”
“Above the Tide” depicts people lying on a boat surrounded by the ocean. Viewed from above, the figures become small against the vastness of the water, emphasizing the feeling of being surrounded by and connected to the Australian landscape. The acrylic paint pastel palette create a sense of calm and nostalgia, reflecting the peaceful memories I associate with time spent near the ocean. The piece represents the quieter, more personal side of my Australian identity and the feeling of belonging that comes from being surrounded by familiar places.