Valerie Thompson
'Hold Me'
oil on board in antique frame
(proceeds to the Australian Orangutan Project)
Artist's Statement
Baby Temara intuitively clings to Leif Cocks as if her life depends on it – and he does
his best. Since being released into a 144,000 ha protected Sumatran forest, complete with
local anti-logging and anti-poaching patrols paid for by Leif’s organisation, she is thriving.
But Leif also battles proposals by timber giant Asian Paper and Pulp to log tens of thousands of ha within the protected area, as well as the ever-present threat of the palm oil industry. Indeed, the Australian Orangutan Project is one of few such advocacy groups not internally dominated by the palm oil industry. Leif is also a dear personal friend of over two decades.
- Valerie Thompson, February 2013
'Flying Foxes'
mixed media on paper
'Looking to the Future' - photography
'Thirst for Justice'
Graphite on paper, digital render
Artist Statement:
Whilst 400,000 Vietnamese people were directly wounded or killed by the U.S. use of agent orange
during the war, there are now over half a million babies born deformed as a result of this chemical.
This orphan child’s look of perpetual wide-eyed gaping bewilderment may belie traditional notions of beauty,
but the irony is not lost on me. Neither is the white space where the back of his head should be.
Nor the perfect ear (albeit somewhat displaced.)
It begs the question – 'how are our ears?'
Are we tuning in to the plight of these victims of a conflict they had no part in,
given that they were not yet even born?
Vietnamese advocates are calling for compensation commensurate
with that which the U.S. hands out to its own citizens with exactly the same ailments.
I call for all leaders who use weapons that kill, injure or deform
future generations to be tried for international crimes of war.
- Valerie Thompson, May 2012
'LIFE-DEATH-LIFE 1'
'LIFE-DEATH-LIFE 2'
'LIFE-DEATH-LIFE 3'
Mixed media series
from Metamorphosis - May2012
'Tree'
Artwork generously donated to the Serpentine's
Art Auction fundraiser held on 13th May 2012
'Well In My View'
Mixed media on paper in recycled window frame.
(Proceeds to Protect Tasmania’s Ancient Forests)
from New Works - April/May 2012
'Sense of Place 1:
Bush Wedding'
Photography
'Sense of Place 2:
Alone'
Mixed media collage
Artist Statement:
Tasmania is a harsh place.
Home to some of the most Majestic Species on the Planet, they tower
above a desperate landscape
dominated by despair and destruction.
For those brave (and stupid) enough
to step outside the comfort zone and stand up for these species, it is a complex relationship with the wild.
‘Bush Wedding’ captures the nurturing aspects of this relationship depicting
a Tasmanian couple sharing vows
under the giant they met
and courted under.
‘Alone' explores the interconnection
and isolation, - physical, emotional
and spiritual.
- Valerie Thompson, February 2012
Note: All proceeds go to Direct Action Campaigns Protecting Tasmania’s
Ancient Forests.
from Place
February 2012
'Hope in da Floz'
Photography
Untitled
Mosaic
Untitled
'Forest Guardian'
Photography and mixed media works
from Tree - November 2008
'Reclining Butch'
Clay and found objects
Artist statement:
'I find art often has one big limit -
the deadline for opening night.
My "butch babes" were intended for
the erotica exhibition
- celebrating the inner butch in all women
as a refreshing, light and sexy contradiction
to the overwhelming portrayal of erotica in
women as the lush feminine goddess.
I missed not only the opening night but the whole exhibition, and with my pieces still in for firing it is likely I will miss this opening night too.
"Lucky art has no limits, hey!"'
- Valerie Thompson, August 2008
from Art Has No Limits
August 2008
SERPENTINE COMMUNITY GALLERY
17 Bridge St, North Lismore, NSW, 2480.
Contact (02) 6621 6845 or serpentineartsgallery@gmail.com