“MY SACRED NATURE”

In her colourful interpretation of the natural world, Gaia Starace examines the current social and environmental conditions through a self-reflective and intimate experience. Her new collection called My Sacred Nature entails three smaller abstract oil paint series: Water in the Forest , Water in the Desert and Water in the Sky. Opening her collection, Gaia introduces two figurative/still life oil paintings on paper, an emblematic gesture of gratitude to nature in a reciprocal act of giving & taking.In the alchemical combination of movement and stillness, Gaia’s art speaks of a deeply personal and enriching contemplation of the rhythm of life… a spiritual experience that transcends the status quo and opens up new possibilities for transformation and social empowerment.

“My Sacred Nature#1”, Oil paint on Arches oil paper, 39.5x54 cm

Water in the Forest

“Amazon”, Oil paint on oil paper, 57x82cm(2cm white border)

Celebrating the sacredness of Nature and reflecting on its essential value to humanity, Gaia’s art–both in painting and drawing–exists at the boundaries of abstraction mainly utilising a minimalistic approach.

With her classical Italian background and education in Architecture, Gaia has been strongly inspired by the quality of the Italian Great Masters’s work, Rothko’s monochromatic use of vibrant colours and the clean design lines of Tadao Ando’s contemplative architecture.

Wanting to provoke disparate emotional responses in the audience, Gaia meticulously balances the formal elements of the composition within the infinite use of colours. Merging the notions of cultural memories, environmental issues & spirituality, her art resides within a poetical, yet playful framework.

“Deep water in the rain forest”, Oil paint on canvas, 51x51cm

WATER IN THE DESERT

“sky in the desert”, Oil paint on canvas, 76x76cm

“desert at deep sunset”, Oil paint on canvas, 76x76cm

WATER IN THE SKY

“blue water at sunset”, Oil paint on arches oi paper, 78.5x54cm

Honouring any accidental imperfection as a reflection of the mutable human nature, Gaia’s “adding & removing” technique is a combination of oil glazing and free-flow scraping method: through the simple, yet powerful single-hand brushstrokes and incisions on the top of the oil paint coating, the hidden colour underneath is revealed, creating a mysterious visual effect of aesthetic beauty and depth of colours.“In a meditative state of full awareness, my hand is free to move on the surface, connecting to the memories of places I visited through my life journey. I feel and see nature as my best companion…it’s an intimate connection characterised by the contemplation of the most beautiful multitude of landscape views and their smallest details”–Gaia Starace.

“My Sacred Nature#2”, Oil paint on Arches oil paper, 39.5x54 cm

"For me, water represents the immutable flow of existence...the waters of the seas, the rain forests and the deserts are always present in our world: humanity has the obligation to protect their ecosystems and their biotic community, in the striving attempt to preserve their environments for the benefit of future generations”–Gaia Starace.

“Blue Jungle”, Oil paint on oil paper, 57x82cm(2cm white border)

“River”, Oil paint on wooden Panel, 30x30cm

“water ripples”, Oil paint on watercolour paper, 30x30cm

“desert#1”, Oil paint on arches oil paper, 39.5x54cm

“desert#2”, Oil paint on arches oil paper, 39.5x54cm

“I like to play with colours and to stay open to the unexpected…any accidental experiences give an opportunity for experimentation and growth…joyfully inspiring the viewer is the core of my art making ”.

“gazing at the sky”, Oil paint on wooden Panel, 30x30cm