Christie Nuell
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sumi ink on paper, mounted on board
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We have over-stepped the mark, that boundary that must be respected in order to preserve our natural environment. Unlike some boundaries, this one is not visible until after the encroachment, when the harm becomes evident. A sense of entitlement at by politicians, business leaders and individuals alike has brought us to this unthinkable place in what has been termed the Anthropocene. What calamitous event was able to so profoundly ravage the daily lives of people and the economies of nations across the world? According to one account it may have been the result of a pangolin being infected by bat droppings, the smallest and seemingly most insignificant of things. By our despoilment of the natural environment we have rendered ourselves so very vulnerable. Christie uses sumi ink on watercolour paper to create large collages. When painting she often does not know what the finished piece will look like, or even what it will be about. Tiny motifs and shapes from both the natural world and the world of mankind float in a crystallographic environment. The work is then cut into smaller pieces – more boundaries – and reassembled onto a larger surface. Christie tries for a balance between the geometric and organic elements of the work. The opportunity to make and submit a piece to the “Boundaries” exhibition was very good for Christie. She had been experiencing anxiety about our future even before the pandemic hit, and found it difficult to make art. This gave me an impetus with a deadline, for which I am grateful. Creative work is healing.
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