MARYANNE WICK
The Menagerie (La Coleccion de Animales)
Oil collage on canvas 55 x 63cm
‘The Menagerie (La Coleccion de Animales)’ is a tonal oil painting/collage. My subject is based on a rare collection of 3000-year-old Iberian artefacts, housed in the Museo Municipal de Valdepeñas, in Castilla La Mancha, Spain.Appointed resident artist by the Museo in 2018, the opportunity to observe and draw from real life, on site, provided real insight and understanding of the artefacts and their origins. The exploration has continued for the last several years. From my latest series, ‘The Menagerie’ aims to give the illusion of an ancient plaque.Reflecting the cultural, historical and natural riches of my experience, as an artist, I intuitively make a connection to my sense of place or surroundings, then quietly respond. Living and working in Sydney, London, Seoul, Beijing, Hong Kong and rural Spain, immersed in their rich art, history and culture, has proved invaluable to my practice.