Sama Padmini Cooper
Katoomba High School
SONDER
Drawing
Ink on Stonehenge
My body of work intends to visually capture the collective experience of individual awareness and presence of mind. I was interested in the concept of ‘sonder’, the realisation that every other person has a life as vivid and complex as your own. I began to experiment with Indian ink and its fluid, spontaneous nature to represent the psychological and emotional state of each individual. Each portrait demands contemplation by the audience: a time to connect and engage with the shared human experience.
My artmaking practice has been influenced by the study and interpretation of the following artists: William John Waterhouse, William Blake, Baroque period.
Marker's Commentary
Sonder is a subtle, emotive exploration of the rich life of the individual’s inner world. These portraits highlight a sensitive layering of ink wash revealing the underlying form, expression and mood in each person. Each drawing showcases the sitter’s quintessential spirit. The concept of the different psychological states of each subject is communicated through an assured blend of the confident soft ink washes, while the areas of powerful and realistic detail reveal the unique investigation into each person’s state of mind. The framing and composition of the subject within the blank space draws us to what may be the introspective life and personality of each of the individuals.
