Deborah Zibah’s artwork may be inspired by nature, but it’s no walk in the park.
The natural world explored in her artworks is seldom figurative, with focus on colours, textural mediums, and dynamic line, to evoke an abstract, organic chaos.
Her art practice, formalised in 2003 when she graduated from ECU, focuses on using natural materials such as grass tree resin, bitumen, shellac, industrial enamel and even metals.
Her Estuary series was commissioned by the Sebel hotel, and is currently on display as part of the Stretch Art Festival.
“It talks about the unique waterways in Mandurah,” Zibah said.
“We’ve got the estuary, we’ve got the ocean, we’ve got the river system and the canals, so it’s all about the water… I’ve developed this very very fluid, very organic style.
“Where the tide goes down, you’ve got this gorgeous sediment left over, and these gorgeous patterns, so this is where [the series] is really inspired from.”
She said the red-brown tones of the grass tree resin references the original inhabitants of the land, and can also represent the historic bloodshed in the area.
“It’s about the river, the life around the river, the flora around the river, so that’s what all these colours I’ve used are for,” she said.
Zibah’s exhibit at the Sebel hotel will be until this Sunday, May 22, when she will give an artist talk in the foyer at 11am.
She is also showing more recent work in an upcoming exhibit in the Sylvia and Harry Hoffman Hall at Carmel School in Dianella, alongside big names such as Pippin Drysdale, Jos Coufeur, Marc Leib, Ken Rassmusen, Neil Turner and Judith Paisley.
Zibah can be contacted 0416 220 983 for more information about her work.
