Leanne Emmitt

A move to Queensland in 2015 ignited an interest in themes of transformation and belongingand my practice became my means of exploring this new environment and negotiating my place within it.

Work as a studio facilitator for the Yalanji Arts Art Centre between 2015 and 2023 gifted me a more nuanced understanding of the cultural and physical landscape of this area and the everchanging nature of sugar cane provides me with an endless source of inspiration.

Being in a new environment has encouraged me to paint from a place of curiosity and wonderand increasingly my interest lies more in the process than the outcome.

Learning to embrace this space of unknowing has been equal parts joyful and terrifying, and it has transformed not only the way in which I work, but my whole relationship to my art practice.

Working with cold wax and oils has given me the freedom to create in stages - to work and re-work an image by building and excavating consecutive layers. It is a process that encourages exploration and risk taking - evidence of missteps; changes in direction; unexpected discoveries - each layer builds on the previous and each decision, right or wrong becomes an integral part of the story.

There is an honesty in this approach that I think the work is richer for.