Everyday emotions inspire artist

DAILY musings on life’s struggles are currently laid bare on the walls of the Old Butchers Shop Gallery as part of the space’s latest exhibition.

Local creative Jade Walsh is exploring her place in the world as both a female artist and a new mother, with the results on display in her Emo-Shone – Diary Paintings and Textiles show.

“There’s a lot of personal works but the subject’s fairly relatable to the human condition,” Walsh said.

“Loneliness and anxiety are pretty strong themes but I always do work very much about particularly my everyday emotional experience.

“My life as a new mother and as a woman artist are the personal themes that hopefully become universal through this.”

Walsh estimated up to 40 works, many of which are smaller pieces, are on display blending textiles, mixed media, acrylic, and the written word.

She’s been tackling themes of anxiety and depression in her work since her first exhibition in 2001, which dealt with her response to living overseas as a nanny.

“The most recent works in this show are quite small pieces I did quite quickly and they’re directly informed by my diary,” Walsh said.

“They’re meant to capture the direct emotional response of for example, feeling heartbroken about going to work.

“It’s quite frightening to exhibit, and having people there that I don’t know at the opening and experiencing them going through these personal works.

“It’s pretty confronting and I don’t like to be around when people are seeing the works. At the same time it’s exhilarating having them connect with people.

“Emo-Shone to me means the bright and humorous, so I try to have bright colours and have the writing be humorous. I always like to make people laugh even if the themes are quite difficult.”

Emo-Shone – Diary Paintings and Textiles is on show until Sunday 23 June.