A Longing Distant Connection

Description

As a child, a sole Quandong tree existed near to our house in South Western NSW. Every season we’d ride our pushies down to check for fruit and share thoughts on its history.

Being unable to travel to visit family in recent times has been difficult for many. Missing out on annual family traditions shared a lot from my childhood through obscured thoughts and unfocused memories. For some reason, riding to the Quandong tree seemed to be the clearest.

This restriction on connection with family was upsetting but it would be nothing compared to what was endured by the people of Melbourne and Victoria during lock-down.

Being welcomed to share the native Quandong, which can be uncommon in Victoria, serves as a gesture of reconnection between two states but also myself and the people of Frankston. It is a reminder of more enjoyable times of interstate travel, connection with distant family or communities with hope that heart felt adventure can be reintroduced to our lives again soon.

Out of the many people I conversed with while painting this wall, only two people had heard of a Quandong. To paint something that was not immediately recognisable, on trend or frequently existent in the street art world was a challenging task but truly rewarding. I'll be taking on this approach as often as possible.

Artist Bio

Brett Piva is a contemporary artist and curator based on the east coast of Australia. Piva’s beginnings started in a rural setting connecting to the Murrumbidgee River. Relocating to an urban environment, his affection for ‘The Australian Bush’ grows stronger by the day.

Piva develops natural patterns and lines within his work that are documented whilst adventuring in drier Australian bush climates and within forestries that strongly benefit from rainfall along the coast.

The contrast within the triumph and tragedy of these ever-changing environments are present within Piva’s work. To reflect on these experiences, Piva uses abstract reverse painting techniques with gold leaf and enamel on glass within paintings, timber and glass sculptural pieces along with large scale murals.

More recent works share compositions of abstract forms created using hand made tools built from branches, bark, leaves or fronds. Mastering these uncontrollable tools shares a connection to an environment in giving a strong sense of place within Piva’s work.

Piva’s practice continually evolves through constant research, experimentation and practice. This has seen him exhibit works in many group shows, solo exhibitions and accomplish artist in residencies in Australia and abroad.