29 March - 16 April 2007
about the exhibition
Marine Ky’s recent work follows “Happy Art Home”, a five-year community-based project based on the theme of world peace. It is an immediate response to visits to holy Buddhist sites in Northern India, Nepal and Cambodia and her own experiences while improving her meditation practices. Ancient relics, textile remnants and floral motifs appear in multi-layered panels at once abstract and representational. These objects sit in an elusive state somewhere between presence and absence, reflecting the often uncertain boundaries of our own memories and experiences. The work explores experiences of mindfulness, an examination of one’s own nature, and the insight through which negatives and causes of suffering can be recognised and eliminated. Through her art, Marine shares something of the journey that has helped her in generating more positive feelings towards all, despite the current climate of fear and uncertainty in the world. “I hope this growing hope and love are felt in this body of work.”
Marine was born in Cambodia and moved to France as a refugee where she completed an Honours degree in Fine Arts.Since moving to Australia in 1992, Marine has undertaken courses in traditional bookbinding and typesetting and has completed her Master of Arts in printmaking at the Tasmanian School of Art, Hobart.A participant in numerous group exhibitions, Marine was selected in 1997 for the Fourth International Biennial of Engraving, touring to Spain, Brazil and Venezuela. Her work is represented in various collections around the world including the National Gallery of Australia, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum (Japan), Parliament House, Artbank, Print Council of Australia, Musée des Beaux-Arts du Locle (Switzerland), Cité Internationale des Arts de Paris (France), and the European Commission and Australian embassies in Phnom Penh (Cambodia).
