Motherland III

[Melbourne: the artist, 2008]

Artist's book. Unique example, signed, titled and dated 2008 in pencil. Handmade folding concertina etching, part of a varied edition of four. The work mimics the way in which a map would fold out, the etching a topographical style image of Wilson's Prominatory. The work measures 290 x 190 mm, when folded and 1400 mm in its entirety (when unfolded as a diarama). The work comprises of four panels which have been joined together by an artisian paper. According to the artist's statement, the work was created whilst undertaking an artist's residency in Glasgow, Scotland. She states that she “had the feeling of Alice Through the Looking Glass reaching out to the other side of the world with this dark reflective image. [Rees] was preparing [herself] emotionally to return,” she states that “Australia is [her] creative wellspring”. Giving an auto-biographical insight into the artist's vision, this work reflects upon her home and source of creativity. 

Bronwyn Rees completed an illustration degree at Queensland College of Art in 1991. Since graduating she has been involved in large commission works for Quay West Brisbane and Holiday Inn Sanctuary Cove. Her work has been exhibited in numerous group and solo exhibitions, and she has also completed short printmaking courses at Macgregor Summer School in Toowoomba, where her tutors have included Basil Hall and Wim de Vos. She held an artist residency at the Glasgow Print Studio in 2000 and is currently based in Melbourne.