Collaboration with Soul
Mary Caia
21 September – 15 October
Barn Gallery

OPENING EVENT: Thursday 21 September 6:30pm – 8:30pm
All welcome, FREE event; RSVP essential.

This series of works initially unravelled from a place where Caia set out to address endangered species; however, during the making of each painting, Caia was deeply influenced by the expression of connectedness and how everything intersects. From our current reality of separateness to one of interconnectedness, these paintings harmoniously explore oneness with the viewer.

“For many years my work was mainly inspired with the female form, nature and the interconnectedness of the feminine energies and mother nature. After my last show “Where did you go?’ and through the experience of isolation, I noticing how humans and pets came together with our outdoor activities, with people communicating instead of passing each other by.

This made me think how important it is to be kind, to care for one another, the different species and this planet we inhabit. The inspiration was to preserve this, so I started with the idea to address endangered species, the painting ‘Affinity (gorilla and mum with their offspring) was the first where I asked myself ‘What is the difference between us?’ the next painting ‘The Mountain is watching’ acknowledges energy that we are all surround by.

Then came ‘Egyptian Cotton’ which was inspired by my interest in Egypt as a teenager and the Pharoh dog which visited me at that time in my dreams. As this painting progressed I was deeply influenced by a sense of the interconnectedness of it all, human, animal and vegetation, it was at this point I realised the viewer of these works is already aware of endangered species, I am not saying anything new, this is where this series of works transformed the show from endangered species to Oneness (ravens) and collaborating with soul The Hat series influenced by 1910 to 1930 fashion as a reminder of the passage of time, reflecting how much have I evolved and learnt over the span of my life and how much we have all moved forward as a society.

I hope these works stir in your heart as they did in mine a gentle reminder that through kindness,love and light radiating out from all of us, together we can make a difference.” - Mary Caia, 2023

Artist bio

Mary Caia is a Melbourne-based artist of Italian descent who spent her youth immersed in drawing, ink rendering and painting. After 20 years of self guidance and aspiration she undertook a three year course at NMIT in Illustration. A spiritual understanding evolved after a two year yoga teacher training course, where her art turned from illustration to works on canvas representing her own personal development as her inspiration and an emotional and spiritual connection for the viewer.

In 2018 she entered the doorway to Montsalvat where she practices her art full-time including reintroducing her Illustration work in The Old Dining Room Studio and teaching others to tap into their own inner desire to create.