Julia Vaatstra is an artist from Tāmaki Makaurau, who has just completed her final year of undergrad studies at Elam School of Fine Arts, UoA. She works in a multimedia approach, primarily involving painting, photography and ceramics. Her work focuses predominantly on both ecological and sustainable lenses, taking place throughout the making process, as well as the subject of her art. Julia’s work is made to be enjoyed by a wide audience, sharing her environmental interests through multi-disciplinary art making, which can easily resonate with other people, as everyone interacts with the natural environment every day.
This project, 'Invisible Networks of Exchange,' was an exploration of interconnectivity that is discovered within every sector of the ecosystem we live amongst. Through mushrooms as the subject material, the seemingly insignificant is brought to light. The network of mushrooms is brought to the surface for all to see in the sculpture which is then repeatedly seen in the cyanotype prints. Having this repetition of theme and subject connects the work, once more hinting to the unseen connections being made clear to us. The title of this work is based off of a quote by Ann Noble, who I researched early on in my project. These words rang true with me throughout, as I sought out bringing to light the connections taking place all around us, between beings and organisms and ideas and people and places. The interconnectivity of all living things is taking place constantly, my work simply gives you a moment to indulge in it.
