Take Me There

Emily Imeson

Emily’s connection to the Australian land has developed a strong desire for her to acknowledge the importance of protecting nature through unveiling aspects that otherwise go unnoticed. Her paintings transform the common landscape into celebrations; they hold a strong presence and provide a glimpse into her world. She also understands the vital importance of First Nation’s people when it comes to understanding this unique land and caring for a healthy environment. 

Originating from Orange, artist Emily Imeson was named Macquarie Group emerging artist of 2019 and as of March 2020 has had her first solo show at Saint Cloche Paddington.

“ The bush conjures up visual poems and as I move through different places, I begin to see the land as a painting. The Australian landscape is the motivation for my practice ”

— Emily Imenson

What first drew you to painting? 

Painting has become a way I can express my infatuation, and concern for unique ecosystems within our Country. Growing up in rural areas of NSW I have developed a great love of the bush, along with Australia’s flora and fauna. Being immersed in the landscape, and the act of painting has quickly become a meditative practice where anxieties can be alleviated.

What was the first thing you created that you were most proud of?

Planning and painting my entry for the 2019 Macquarie Group Emerging Artist Prize. Being selected as a finalist for this award was an incredible moment, the Macquarie Group collection holds many artists I admire and is conceptually based on ‘The Land and It’s Psyche’.

I have been traversing Australia living out of a four-wheel drive since June 2018, both works were developed in outdoor studios/campsites in The Kimberly and The Pilbara, Western Australia. The works were painted on the ground onto un-stretched canvas then sent to Sydney, it was not until the awards night that I saw the works stretched and framed, an overwhelming and memorable experience.

Aussie city or Aussie bush? Why?

For me the bush has become a symbol of Australia itself, the endurance and resilience of nature has created its unfathomable beauty. The extreme, harsh and enduring environments are places of inspiration, admiration and peace. I feel these landscapes are embedded in our psyche and connecting to a primordial thread within all humans.

‘The bush’ conjures up visual poems and as I move through different places, I begin to see the land as a painting. The Australian landscape is the motivation for my practice. As I learn more of the land, and its original people, I fear the true native Australia will disappear as mass production and mining continue to drive the Country’s economy. The Australian ‘bush’ is something to be treasured.

Describe a typical day when you’re out in the wilderness in your mobile home on one of your painting expeditions?

I have been living out of a mobile home (Toyota Troop carrier) camping and exploring Australia for almost 2 years. As I traverse the Country I continuously sketch and paint the landscapes I experience. Each day provides endless inspiration and I constantly take notes. 

When the weather is favourable, I set up an outdoor studio, referencing my journal and my immediate environment for small plein air studies on paper or plywood. This practice leads to working on large rolls of canvas, either on the ground or hanging off the car’s roof-racks using the side of the vehicle as an easel. 

To continue pursuing my emerging artistic practice whilst living on the road I had to meet the challenges of space and weight restriction. My practice had to be compacted and adjusted from the comforts of a large indoor studio space, where I worked with oils on large sheets of plywood or stretched canvas. I currently work with fast drying mediums and malleable supports, paper is stored underneath the bed, rolls of canvas are hung above where I sleep (fishing rods above my partner). I carry small cuts of plywood, stored upright, and I keep my acrylic, gauche, and drawing materials in my Uncles old ‘Globite' school case, stored on the roof.

How do you feel about the recent bushfires we experienced in Australia – considering that many of the forests that you were painting have now been decimated by fire?

At the beginning of my journey I travelled through far north Queensland and across the top end of the Northern Territory, there was a lot of cool burns happening. Some slowly smouldering as we moved through the land, other areas were charcoaled but contrasted with the lime green regrowth of cycads and palms. I enjoyed painting these landscapes of considered land management, stark contrast and resilience.

These recent fires in NSW and nationwide are not only devastating and relentless but also seem inevitable. Fire is a natural occurrence and this natural disaster is a culmination of a thirsty landscape, land mismanagement, land misuse, and the accelerated effects of climate change. 

The bush and rainforest surrounding the Northern Rivers in NSW is where I began painting ‘en plein air’. It is heart-breaking to see such a powerful uncontrolled force come through and engulf the land I grew up in. My mind goes to my friends and family who live in the middle of the rainforest, and others who live in the bush already struggling with a prolonged drought providing little income or relief. 

Over Christmas I returned home to see the charcoaled land and hear stories of my friends fighting fires, building containment lines, fleeing fires, and one story of my friends stuck in the middle of a fire storm watching their everything burn. These recent bushfires leave me feeling overwhelmed and helpless. This catastrophe must lead Australia to empower and listen to First Nation elders, naturalists, and environmental scientists, heed their wisdom, respect their advice and act. 

What are your favourite things to – touch, smell, see, hear and see? 

• Smell - Rain, and eucalypt or melaleuca forests, particularly when in flower.

• See - Healthy ecosystems, natural phenomena, and the resilience of nature.

• Touch - Fresh or saltwater.

• Hear - Black cockatoos flying over head.

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You can follow Emily on Instagram @emilyimeson.
Photography of artworks by Jacqui Turk.

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