CENTRAL Victorian artist Akuek Deng wants people to get to know her on a personal level through her debut exhibition.<\/p>\n
Working under the artist name Naya Ruon, the emerging creative launched her first showcase at the Old Church on the Hill last Friday.<\/p>\n
The exhibition is located in the Old Church\u2019s feast space and will run for five weeks.<\/p>\n
Featuring bright, fluid abstract works on canvas, Ruon said the works reflected her hidden side.<\/p>\n
\u201cI find it\u2019s a way for me to express myself because on the inside I\u2019m very bubbly and outgoing and a lot of people don\u2019t see that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s usually the ones who really know me who get to experience that side of me. Through my work I can show that, and I want people to see that and get to know me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am inspired by emotions and nature, and I want people who see my work to feel happy. I want it to change someone\u2019s state, that\u2019s my goal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ruon said she recently completed a women in business program with Multicultural Arts Victoria after rediscovering her love of art during COVID-19 lockdowns.<\/p>\n
She said the program gave her the confidence to return to creating and kickstart a career.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen MAV came along, that gave me the push and they encouraged me and made me feel like I could actually do this,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Already, Ruon said she is looking to her next exhibition and plans to showcase her portraiture.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
CENTRAL Victorian artist Akuek Deng wants people to get to know her on a personal level through her debut exhibition. Working under the artist name Naya Ruon, the emerging creative launched her first showcase at the Old Church on the Hill last Friday. The exhibition is located in the Old Church\u2019s feast space and will […]<\/p>\n