Having been born in South Africa and immigrating to Australia 20 years ago, Vanessa’s artworks draw on a personal history of experiences and imagery that are inspired and informed by both these countries, their distinctive landscapes and creatures. Her unique blend of symbolic imagery, still-life and surreal landscapes are significantly influenced by what she sees and feels in the world, striving to create a unique, authentic voice.
“When I start a piece I never quite know what I want to say but then a visual conversation begins and it evolves into a fantastic, quirky dialogue of beauty, fragility, loss and hope. This gives me joy. When this conversation resonates with someone else, the viewer, I am truely grateful . . . I am repeatedly drawn to landscapes, still lifes and creatures because they are a fantastic, colourful, metaphoric language and when used in an unusual context they create a meaningful dialogue for the soul.”
Vanessa is a resident artist at Fern Street Gallery in Gerringong, NSW. Her work is on display all year round.
www.vanessa-anderson.com