LINA ZAINAL
2025
An amalgamation of putting into creation the inner landscape unto visual representations, I have come to arrive what painting "landscapes" would mean within my art practice. Symbolic images that encapsulate what the space surrounding the self have in connection to each other.
My interest in anthropology, more specifically in old mysticism belief systems, was expanded upon when I was able to visit home to Java, Indonesia and researched what nature and the self (or communities) could manifest into everyday rituals and understanding. Especially during this time of climate change and global social upheavals, I am pulled to the importance of building relationships with our immediate environment and stronger communities could benefit each other for the better.
Plants have always been an important part of healthy human survival from food to medicine as well the more esoteric path to guide the undertaking of internal search to the subconscious, a realm of invisible landscape to the mind. Historical writings of ancient world religions and studies of Alchemy have strong base with the natural world alongside elemental influences and build upon them symbols and rituals to accommodate one's journey.
With these paintings I pursued using ideas from symbols, folk knowledge and fabled histories, to that place where true connection could be established; of Nature and its' relation to the inner landscape of the self.
After taking a break to work on a different project that focused on sewing and repurposing fabrics under 'Fables of the Hands', I came back to start on expanding my painting practice. Previously using oil pastels, I enjoyed the way each colour would hold or blend with one another when creating structure within the forms. In a way, abstracting forms into colour chaos.
Rather than depicting the landscapes of mountains with definitive panorama held between the earth and sky, I layer colour upon colour to try and create a somewhat organic creation of forms that is fluid and nonrestrictive. Like looking through a magnifying glass upon nature.
During this time I was highlighting the exploratory nature of colour play without thinking much on the rigid structure on what constitute a 'Landscape painting'.
2024
2022
After Resettling back to the Blue Mountains I decided to start anew by expanding my practice with works of oil pastels, searching for a way to find the freedom of forms and textures without focusing too highly on the rigidity in my brushstrokes.
I went back to basic with still life of everyday objects well through to most abstract depictions of landscapes, gaining a multitude of inspirations from the many scenery available within the Blue Mountains National Park.
2015
During this time I was mostly travelling while visiting my home country of Indonesia going through Jakarta, Bali then Madura where my father originated from. Towards the end of the year I went Cherry picking first in Victoria then down to Tasmania. There was a lot of photography involved, I did drawings and paintings straight on to my journal, trying to depict landscapes and emotions as well as the people I met along the way.
