Artist’s Statement
A series of oil paintings on canvas by Emi Pavlides, winner of The Friends’ School Visual Arts Prize 2023. Exhibitor in Tasmania’s ArtRage 2023 touring exhibition
Native Tasmanian bees, the unsung beings responsible for Tasmania’s ecosystems, silently and tirelessly play the pivotal role in maintaining biodiversity. As vital pollinators, native bees ensure the health and sustainability of our native flora and fauna, and their diverse preferences in plants and nesting habitats make them essential to the intricate web of life in Tasmania.
One of the many artists that inspired me to display importance through large scale works was from the artist, Louis Masai, who uses street art to highlight the critical role of bees.
Through my exhibition, I hope to highlight these often-overlooked creatures and challenge the audience to see the beauty, significance, and fragility of native Tasmanian bees. The hyper realistic style brings forth the complex details and characteristics unique to each species, representing the individuality of every ecosystem. To accentuate the inimitability of each native bee species, I have focussed on different angles in highly detailed, realistic paintings.
The uncanny pin, a recurring motif in all my paintings, is a vital symbol for how we should shift our focus on the concept of biodiversity.
Through my work, I want to inspire change, and to appreciate the indispensable role played by Tasmania’s native bees. Through their large-scale, hyper realistic portrayal, I hope to present them in a way that is as significant as their contribution to the preservation of our diverse ecosystems.
Emi is 18 years old and has forever lived in Tasmania. She adores animals, classical music, bush walks, and the days when mist silently envelopes her surroundings. In life after school, Emi plans to explore what career opportunities might be best for her, but in the meanwhile she will keep doing what she loves, art.
In addition to being the recipient of the The Friends’ School’s 2023 Visual Arts Prize, Emi’s work was also chosen to be part of Tasmania’s ArtRage 2023 touring exhibition.