Lilli Strömland

Whilst we are in the full swing of spring, my solo exhibition ‘Home Harvest’ celebrates the fruitful bounty to be gained from the winter months spent within our homes.

Supposedly a dormant season, winter however is a time of quiet flourishing, nesting and preparing.

I retreated into my home, curled up on the couch under woolen blankets, held hot lemon and honey drinks in hand to sooth the seasonal colds, observing grandma’s cut crystal twinkling on the mantle.

Triggered by cold spells the orchids bloomed as we guzzled on great spoonsful of pumpkin soup. These small moments are the gems of winter.

In ‘Home Harvest’, ceramic frames have been paired with paintings. The frames on the smaller works are slim additions, adding strips of colour and a contrasting texture. The shiny ceramic glazes suggest the twinkle of the cut crystal subjects. Larger frames are made up of small arches, which reflect the looping rhythmical patterns seen in the cut crystal. They are also reminiscent of the scalloped edge of a tablecloth, or trim of a lace doily. The ceramic frames refer to the long history of ceramics within the domestic space.

Home Harvest celebrates the shining gems that come with the cold.

Homely Gems is centred around the ‘jewels’ of many homes: cut crystal. Balancing between gaudy and opulent, cut crystal will have significance to many as it revives nostalgia of twinkling vases, bowls and jugs, inherited treasures, or perhaps the adorned sideboard at grandma’s house. Cut crystal is paired with the iconic Australian wool ‘Onkaparingpa’ blankets, inviting warm memories of home. Please revel in the nostalgia!

Hosted by Damien Minton Presents, November 2022, in Alexandria, Sydney.

‘As the quintessential wool blanket of Australia, the Onkaparinga is a familiar presence in our homes. These boldly colourful blankets hold a nostalgic quality, embracing us in warmth and familiarity. In these works, they are a representation of home in Australia.

Onkaparingas have been paired with orchids, which are included as a symbol of the individual/self. The temperamental nature of orchids and their need for consistent upkeep is somewhat like our own need for self-care. When we carry out acts of self-care, they often occur within the home. Here we feed, clean and rest our minds and bodies, preparing to take on the randomness of life.

Onkaparingas and Orchids: home and self-care. Let these paintings be a reminder to nurture yourself and your sources of sanctuary.’ Lilli Stromland

‘An indulgence of paint and colour, this exhibition brings together still-lifes and ceramics to explore the subject of material nostalgia, comfort and home. The works transpose the Dutch still-life tradition into the contemporary context of Australian suburbia. Posing like sitters for portraits, store-bought orchids are set against the historical backdrop of the Onkaparinga blanket – a mainstay in Australian homes since the mid-19th century. Symbolically-charged, the toppling plants are a reminder of the consistent need for self-care, tenderness and comfort. Bold and colourful, these paintings, like their fabric, envelop the viewer in the exact sense of warmth and familiarity that their fragile sitters necessitate.

Coupling milled wool with the newness of fleshy leaves and translucent crinkles of cellophane, the works are a sensuous exploration of material contrasts. Generous daubs of oil paint evoke the five senses: floral freshness and grandma’s musk, the touch of warm versus cold, and the vibrant hum of contrasting colours. An extension of this immersive experience, accompanying ceramic works explore the tumble of paint, plant and pattern in novel iterations that reinvent the viewer-sitter relationship of still-live. Within these effervescent vignettes is the sheer pleasure of looking and feeling, and the invitation to nurture ourselves.’

SADHBHA COCKBURN

‘This sewing machine was my Grandmother's. It's not new nor automatic or 'smart'. But it works beautifully; reliably aiding the creation of my sewing projects. In this scene, the machine is tackling a sheet of lime green spandex. I believe it's the first time this machine has come across spandex, but the slippery fabric is no match for my Bernina.

This sewing machine brings together functionality and nostalgia. And it's for these two reasons that it will always hold space in my life.’ Lilli Stromland