Essence of There

Amanda Smart

Opening: May 14 5:30 pm

Viewing: May 13 until May 31

My exhibition Essence of There explores the sensory memory of place — how certain environments, objects, and patterns can linger with us long after we’ve left them. These works are not about depicting a scene literally, but about capturing its emotional residue — the feeling of being there.

I use abstraction, colour, and form to translate the atmosphere of remembered spaces into a visual language. Whether drawn from walks through native bush or quiet moments at home, each work is layered with energy, rhythm, and complexity.

The domestic still life works reference vintage vases and familiar forms — symbolic objects that for me suggest the nurturing, protective qualities of the feminine. These vessels are metaphors for motherhood and memory, as well as physical holders of life and story. They speak to the quiet emotional power of objects that have lived many lives.

The hanging fabric pieces, made from hand-painted strips, move gently in space and respond to light. Some are painted with fluorescent pigments and will look especially vibrant under UV light — adding yet another dimension to the experience. These works are abstracted impressions of place and pattern — from summer heatwaves to undersea currents — evoking the way the natural world pulses with life.

My work is full of pattern because I see nature as inherently complex: millions of cells connected in constant growth. These works echo that intricacy and seek to honour it.

I live in Waikanae on the Kāpiti Coast and work as an artist, publication designer, and co-run a vintage resale business with my partner. This is my first time exhibiting at Space Gallery.

{ Gallery 2 }