Memento mori

This year the Duldig Studio, Museum & Sculpture Garden (East Malvern, Victoria), ran an umbrella decorating competition to raise funds for the care of its collection.

At the opening last night, I learnt that I won!

Here are some pictures and the short artist’s statement that went with the work:

Memento Mori

2018, collage and gold doilies on umbrella; irregular size

Inspired by 19th century photography and reflections on mortality, each image was selected for its beauty and power. Most portraits used are of women, or those identifying as women. Portraits of mourning, decoration, tribal belonging, patriarchal oppression, frippery, joy, power, challenge.

The judges were Leah Justin, Director, Justin Art House Museum, and Ella Hughes, Gallery Manager, Bundoora Homestead. Here’s their statement about their decision:

The winning entry- Olga Tsara’s work Memento Mori Black appealed because of her inventiveness, her clarity, her  level of excellence in execution-  and her beautiful use of everyday materials

The umbrella with its black and white photocopied images fringed with the gold doilies, when first seen in the garden, was both striking and arresting and stood out as much for its simple beauty, as its quiet power. There is an interesting poignancy, discipline and tranquility emanating from the work and we felt the umbrella had a timelessness to its design. It seems to reflect and transcend both eastern and western art traditions with its sparing but selective use of women’s images. Perhaps subliminally Olga also pays homage to Slawa Duldig and the challenges, joy and power she also had in executing her works.