Narla’s Story Time Illustrations Tour
Pawprints from the City to Nature
This exhibition, “Pawprints from City to Nature,” features paintings and drawings about all aspects of nature. Alina Shirley is an emerging artist who recently graduated from RMIT visual arts last year. She is a storyteller working as an artist, writer and illustrator. Alina creates surreal art and stories with bright colours that magically swirl people to fantasy places in the mind and imagination. The exhibition is designed as two related short stories split down the middle of the room, crossing over at the centre.
This first (entry side) of the room is the story of “Nature and Mankind” for adults. It features landscapes and cityscapes with hidden figures and animals. The room is predominantly painting’s in oil paints and acrylics. The artworks pose the question: how human’s creations and technological advancements make peace with the elements of nature?
The second side of the room is called “Narla’s Story Time” for the children and children at heart. It is about a dog called Narla, a Groodle, Story Dog and family dog of Alina. Alina has published two books about her life: the first book is “Narla’s Story Time,” and the second book is “Narla’s 10th Birthday,” with a third in the works. The room features the original pastel illustrations used to make the books, and some oil paintings. It gives a “behind the scenes” view on how the books were made and their story.
Journey’s Through Life and Death
Journeys Through Life and Death
Curated by Alina Shirley
At the Stephen Mclaughlan Gallery
Showed from the 7th to the 24th of December 2022
The exhibition features the work of 6 emerging artists (including Alina Shirley) all students current and past students of RMIT. The artists met in covid online and have held the group together since. “Journeys through life and death” is their first group exhibition together. The exhibition involves various artworks including prints, painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media. The exhibition starts with an examination of Birth, before moving into journeys through Life, and ultimately arriving at Death. The birth works comment on feminism and the church by Halle brown. Then after being born, we wonder our purpose and what we want to do with life, and can get “Lost in life,” represented by Alina Shirley. This is complemented with Falconeris Marimón works on Life’s Road signs, over thinking, and photos walking through the city. The city becomes a labyrinth with ephemeral quality. Alina’s work of Melbourne city also comments on the places we frequently wonder in everyday life. Looking up to the sky in reflection, Sonny De Alwis work shows the sea of life transforming into death, and the moments of reflection with a coffee on our everyday journeys. Finally, Blanca Padros-Quintana work comments on death, spirituality and the the fragility of life. Blanca Padros-Quintana and Shaemus Anketell collaborate on how death can lead to a new spiritual beginning. Blanca Padros-Quintana work see’s the beauty and new beginning in death. Sonny De Alwis work “Do we have time” marks the end of the show. Finally, “Mt Maslow” By Alina Shirley summaries our journey’s through life like climbing a mountain finding self-actualisation and fulfilling Maslow hierarchy of needs. Journeys through life and death is a story of the artists life experiences on how we are born, live, die and do it all again. The show was a great success, many people appeared on the opening day and enjoyed the day. All the artists were very grateful for this opportunity.
The artists are:
• Alina Shirley
• Sonny De Alwis
• Simone Vittorio
• Falconeris Marimón
• Halle Brown
• Blanca Padros-Quintana
• Shaemus Anketell
