Ode to Joy (2022)
Marine ply, acrylic mirror, hand painted ceramic tiles and enamel paint
Ode to Joy is a visual tribute to my deceased mother, Joy. Full of symbols and memories, this work is painted in the style of Persian miniatures, every detail tells a story – from the Russian icon border, peacock, dove, sparrow, roses, the harbour, olive tree, bird of paradise, wrought iron balustrade, cook books, broken daisy chain – all contained within a ceramic tile frame.
About the Artist
Kathie Najar lives on Cammeraygal Country in Sydney’s North Shore. She creates immersive site-specific visual experiences, referencing histories, patterns in nature and Islamic geometry. Kathie has a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Masters of Art Administration, from College of Fine Arts, UNSW. She has exhibited in Sculpture at Scenic World, Barometer Gallery Paddington, White Rhino ArtSpace St Leonards, North Sydney Art Prize, Art space on The Concourse, UP Space, Marrickville, Toyota Community Spirit Gallery Port Melbourne and Sculpture in the Vineyards.
Transcription
My name's Kathie Najar. I'm an artist and visual arts facilitator living and working on the lands of the Cammeraygal people on the North Shore of Sydney.
For sculptures at Rookwood twenty-twenty two, I've created an artwork titled Ode to Joy, a horizontal hand painted tile panel, as a tribute to my mother, whose name was Joy. It's placed on the ground in a row with other existing tombs, so it's viewed, incidentally, as you wander through the grave sites.
Presented as a tomb, it's painted in the style of miniature painting, where every detail illustrated tells a story of my mum. From the Russian icon border, peacocks standing on cookbooks, dove, olive tree, white roses, broken daisy chain, Paddington terrace balustrade on a balcony overlooking Sydney harbour. I like to create immersive site specific visual experiences referencing histories and patterns in nature.
My visual language can challenge spatial and relational perceptions. My site specific practice is informed by my studio explorations, drawing, painting, paper, folding, tile painting, construction, digital imagery and collage stitching. At all processes I utilise to work through my stories for this artwork Ode to Joy. It was more about researching and revisiting old photographs, objects and places, in particular the Antioch Orthodox Cathedral where so many of my family gatherings took place.
Walking through Rookwood, I was excited by the many and various culturally specific icons, styles and references around grave sites and burial practices. It brought back vivid memories of my mother, of the past, culture, time and place that's forever imprinted in my mind and body. I was compelled to tell this story and for it to be viewed in this context. In creating this artwork, the only consideration was about my relationship with my mother, as a celebration of all the colour and joy she brought to my life. Yet surprisingly, there's also been more to mourn through the making of this work.
Only now considering the impact this artwork may have, my hope is that it may cause others to pause and reflect, to heal and to celebrate their past relationships too.