Our double solo exhibition at Chatswood Art Space on The Concourse was an experience we will long remember. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who visited, supported the exhibition, and purchased artworks — your engagement made this show truly meaningful.
Out of my 28 artworks presented (18 on the walls and 10 in storage), 19 have found new homes. Over the ten days of the exhibition, we had the privilege of speaking with around 600 visitors, and we are deeply grateful for the thoughtful feedback and personal stories shared along the way.
Special thanks go to the Willoughby Council staff and Mayor Tanya Taylor for their support and smooth organisation. We are also thankful to our guest speaker Alan Davies and musician Viktoria Stepanenko, whose contributions added depth and warmth to the opening evening.
The atmosphere throughout the exhibition was generous and engaging. We hope visitors carried a sense of positivity with them, and perhaps a renewed desire to connect with nature — something art does best when it is shared.
Knowing your tools deeply — how they behave, how they age, how they respond to light and heat — changes the way you work and the confidence with which you make decisions. During my time at Azur Studio in Kyiv, we took part in a number of art trips across Europe, visiting paint and medium manufacturers directly. These experiences were invaluable. Being able to ask questions about materials from the people who created them — the chemists, designers, and technicians behind the products — gave us insights no manual or catalogue ever could. Who could know the materials better than those who developed them? Along the way, we also participated in workshops with local designers who introduced us to the full potential of different gels and pastes, transparent and opaque paints, and specialised products for textile decoration and pseudo stained glass. We explored techniques for creating patina, working with gilding, and layering surfaces in ways that expanded both technical knowledge and creative possibility. I often find myself missing those times — being surrounded by like-minded professionals, travelling, learning, experimenting, and talking endlessly about what we loved most: paint, surface, and decoration. Those journeys shaped not only my technical approach, but also my respect for materials as active partners in the creative process.
1 April 2026
My solo exhibition Echoes of the Bush was held at Art Space Gallery, The Concourse in Chatswood. It grew from a deep admiration for Australian nature and a close, ongoing observation of my surroundings. The result was a series of tree portraits and studies of bush textures — works that sit somewhere between painting and sculpture, and are truly meant to be experienced in person. Over 12 days, the exhibition unfolded into something far richer than I could have anticipated. The opening night set the tone — with a thoughtful address by Alan Davies and a moving performance by soprano and bandura player Larissa Kovalchuk. It was a beautiful beginning, and one that stayed with me throughout the exhibition. Across the two weeks, the gallery became a place of connection. We held two fully booked workshops, shared hundreds of conversations, and welcomed a steady flow of visitors — 1,146 people in total. Each interaction, each question, each moment of curiosity added something meaningful to the experience. It was also a great honour to welcome the Mayor of Willoughby, Tanya Taylor, and to feel the genuine support of the Willoughby Council team throughout the entire process. Their encouragement made a real difference. The exhibition has now come to a close — 12 intense and incredibly rewarding days. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who visited, who spent time with the work, and who shared their thoughts and impressions. It truly takes just one kind word to shape someone’s experience, and I felt that kindness every day. A special thank you to those who chose to take a piece of this exhibition home. It means a great deal to know that the works will continue their life in your spaces.
