Faridah Cameron — Sundown Splendour

Painter Faridah Cameron turns to the abstract to celebrate trees, which she does beautifully in her joyous work Sundown. But Faridah also asks the question: Where would we be without them?

Sundown is stunning. A vibrant palette of pink, orange and green amplified by slashes of black. Two vertical blue marks hint at a tree. “We respond to the beauty of trees, not just in the natural environment – the majesty of forest giants and ancient red gums in the desert riverbeds – but also in the city where streets and gardens are softened, shaded, and made welcoming by their presence,” Faridah tells us.

Faridah is renowned for her unique abstract style. Pared back form, combined with highly detailed mark-making, like the ‘dots and dashes’ we see in Sundown, is her calling card. She always leaves space for viewer interpretation. “I invite you to use your imagination. Sundown is a time of beauty and wonder, but the setting of the sun is also a metaphor for the ending of things.”

Handmark’s exhibition celebrating trees is important, not just for the artists, but also for awareness: “In a world fraught with confusion this is a very affirming show. Our lives are intimately involved with trees, and they deserve our upmost respect. What would the world be without trees?”