EXHIBITION
DVA Main Gallery
Opening 6pm Friday 16th of April 2021
Showing from the 16th April | 1st May
"Transmogrify", for Bev and Adrienne, focuses on the beauty found in the environment, drawing attention to and encouraging enjoyment of their surroundings. With their work they hope to highlight the need for the conservation and protection of the environment. Their works encompass the idea of transmogrify: they begin with raw materials and through different processes transform those materials into something unexpected, different or magical.
Bev starts with fleece and goes through a process of wetting, heating, rolling and stabbing to produce an artwork. She combines varied materials such as handmade paper, cardboard and then adds stitch to result in beautiful tactile felted artworks.
Adrienne starts with wax, tree resin and powdered pigment that is boiled, burnt, gouged, doused with alcohol and set alight to result in a gloriously glossy, smooth yet tactile surface.
Both mediums lend themselves to be manipulated into surprising forms for both viewer and artist. This is part of the magic of their mediums: the thrill of the unknown and unexpected. The challenge of transforming a traditional art form into something that is both contemporary and full of surprise.
Ray Hayes moved to the Northern Territory in the early 1980’s to work in Yirrkala and then Darwin. He was a passionate advocate for Human Rights, Labour Rights, Land Rights and the Environment. Ray assisted Yothu Yindi in obtaining the initial funding for band. He advocated and assisted Aboriginal people throughout his working life at Bagot Community and with the Larrakia Nation.

Elemental is Darwin Visual Arts’ first exhibition of 2025, showcasing the diverse talents of our artists as they explore the elements in both literal and metaphorical forms. This inspiring collection presents vibrant and thought-provoking works that celebrate the forces shaping our world and the essence of existence.

Explore the 'Palimpsest of Life' exhibition, a thought-provoking visual arts project that reimagines memento mori. This PhD journey connects a personal reflection on death to the global warning of the Anthropocene. Concepts are explored through portraiture and suggested landscapes, reflecting on life's fleeting nature and our collective legacy.