artworld

marina saint martin

wide open spaces

A local artist who has had considerable success in Europe still loves to lose herself In the depth of the Outback where she finds most of the inspiration for her work

It’s always good to hear of Gold Coast artists exhibiting overseas. It’s even better when shows receive foreign acclaim. Late last year, Ashmore artist Metka Skrobars Two Worlds, One Dream was exhibited at the Galena Grad, Slovenska Bistrica, inside a 12th century Slovenian castle.
Dr Danilo Turk, president of the Republic of Slovenia, visited for a private viewing – a great honour for the Australian-based artist.
Boris Cizelj, a former ambassador for Slovenia in Australia, travelled from Brussels to open the exhibition. During his time as ambassador, he opened exhibitions for Skrobar on the Gold Coast and in Canberra.
The Slovenian opening included traditional folk dancing and a musical performance by a didgeridoo player.
“The beautiful, mystical didgeridoo music echoed through the castle courtyard, spacious halls and the five exhibition rooms’ says Skrobar, She describes the opening as ‘a wonderful event, with the artworks depicting bright and colourful Australian themes, interspersed with soft and gentle Slovenian landscape themes’. This gave the show its ‘two worlds’ title.
One comment she heard repeated over and over again during the exhibition was ‘we did not know Australia was so beautiful’.
Metka Skrobar is an Australian art graduate who has lived in this country since the age of nine.
She also has a Diploma of Education for Visual Arts from the University of Southern Queensland. When not travelling to run her art

workshops, the artist’s love for the Outback takes her to some of the most remote parts of Australia to explore, discover and collate ideas.

Skrobar also regularly travels to Europe, participating in group exhibitions in Italy and Austria.

Her latest show is closer to home and finds her exhibiting a new body of work, Windows to The Outback, at the John Muffins Memorial Art

Metka Skrobar’s Interpretations (above) and Eroded Gullies, Witjlra National Park

Gallery in Miles, on the western Darling Downs. From there it will travel to the Qantas Founders Museum at Longreach.

“This new body of artwork represents the contrasting visions and experiences of my recent travels to Lake Eyre,” says Skrobar.

“A rare opportunity to witness the lake transform from a dry, lifeless saltpan to an inland sea, abundant with bird life, has served as one of the most awe-inspiring journeys for my creative work.”

While travelling, she always has her journal at hand, filling it with ideas, sketches, watercolour vignettes and photographs: “These valuable resources form the foundation for the creative rendition of my experiences.”

Back in her studio and ‘faced with this huge blank canvas’, she begins with charcoal sketches.

When this initial stage is completed, she starts on the ‘texturing’ of the canvas by using a variety of collage papers – such as

unryushi or textured rice paper – and sometimes adding gauze or fabrics and finally a layer of modelling compound.

Several colours of diluted acrylics then follow, creating a flamboyant, textured surface on which to continue her work.

The artist gradually adds different layers of acrylic to depict the land and sky ‘to set the harmonious foundation for the vegetation and different abstract shapes’.

Skrobar’s aim is to simplify and create a new dialogue between space and substance in the landscape of the spectacular Outback.

“I am inspired by a horizon line, suggesting the idea of distance and recession – the rich, red earth and complementing blue skies.”

Through these processes she seeks ‘to capture the essence of this seemingly dry and harsh environment, with its endless horizons and vast vaulted skies’.

Windows to The Outback, by Metka Skrobar, is on show at the John Mullins Memorial Art Gallery,

Dogwood Crossing, Miles, until April 10