MARIA NGUYEN
THE ARTIST
MIXED MEDIA
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Homebody (2021)
Acrylic on MDF
Homebody is a 3 part series that attempts to create an association between Maria's intangible feelings of 'home' with tangible and inanimate objects that induce a sense of family, nostalgia and comfort.
In light of all this staying at home business and being an early 20’s human on the cusp of parting from the family nest, she has been doing lots of reflecting on what home has meant to her.
"For when I am not surrounded by the people I love, how can I identify traces of personal touch that are left behind for me to feel connected to them?"
COUCH (detailed explanation)
A couch is an object that feels like family to me without being overtly indicative of people. Memories of waiting until 7:30 to watch Thank God You’re Here or timing the ads of the Harry Potter movie to have a pee break brings much nostalgia and feelings of comfort in the confines of the cold to touch but ass sinking, leather living room couch.
These are scenes that are generally quite mundane and perhaps only I will ever be able to see the quirk to it but I hope the audience can share in these intimate and comfy feelings.
What does it mean to feel at home?
What are inanimate objects that give you a sense of home, familiarity and comfort?
Maria is a mixed-media designer and artist whose practice involves lots of play and banana bread. She enjoys challenging traditional conventions and talking in the third person. Her journey as a creative was cultivated from a young age through the medium of painting and has developed alongside her design practice involving printing, motion and programming.
With the increase in time spent at home recently, she is in the process of developing her own artistic style by experimenting with a variety of mediums and techniques. Her work is largely inspired by her other artists (big and small), personal experiences, science and anomalies in the real world.
More of her design work can be seen on her Instagram and her website.
AUDIO GUIDE
Wallflower (2020 & 2021)
Acrylic on MDF
Born out of a need to meet her gaze with something soothing and consoling during a time of isolation, Wallflower is a 3 part series that captures some key moods across some lockdowns.
The name refers literally to some flowers on a wall but also denotes the artist becoming more introverted and withdrawn.
The concept and simple execution of this series attempts to give the viewer the space and opportunity to slow down. Physically with their eyes but also mentally through the easily understood subject matter. The pieces were created as a visual ‘break’ to an overly stimulating online environment and a repetitive mundane physical space.
Each painting sequentially refers to poignant feelings throughout the different stages of lockdown.
"The first being the catalyst for the subsequent paintings, is a reflection of how I felt towards the beginning; optimistic, a little bit screen fatigued and overall needed a soothing change of environment. The second is a very droopy and wilted girl feeling a bit stagnant and stale. The last being completed recently, is a “here we go again” type feel with the outlook of having the opportunity to recharge and be in touch with my own space and self again."
AUDIO GUIDE
Wallflower painting 2 & 3 available for purchase
Framed, $250
If you'd like to make a purchase during your time at COZY. Please contact Maria at 0411 846 065
