Youth is like Diamonds Melissa Elliot

20 January to 26 February 2012Umbrella Studio contemporary arts

Youth is like Diamonds

is an exhibition of

paintings, drawings and

objects that explore

traumatic loss and the

sense of self.

The works integrate the

need for reparation after

trauma and highlight

the positive influence

that creativity has in

self-awareness and the

reparation of emotion,

through expressive

painting and drawing

techniques.

Several bodies have

formed amongst these

works. Identity, memory

and relationship, and

memorial and remembrance works come together to form a distinct life

story of the artist who lost her younger brother to suicide several years

ago. She explores the ways her life has changed and her experiences with

loss, memory, childhood and love through her art.

A strong believer in art therapy Melissa Elliot has used

her creativity to deal with her own traumatic loss, and

in turn hopes that this creates an associative healing

and understanding in the viewer.

Influenced by contemporary street art Melissa’s

vibrant acrylic paintings provide an emotional

and direct experience of her life.

Front: childhood dreams, 2011,

acrylic on mdf, 91x120 cm

Above Left: self portrait back,

2011, acrylic, charcoal and

spray paint on mdf, 91x120 cm

Above: losing down, 2010,

acrylic spray paint and charcoal

on canvas

Right: memorials, 2010,

charcoal, acrylic and spray paint

on canvas, 90 x 120 cm

Back: swinging the cat by the tail, 2010,

acrylic, charcoal and spray paint on canvas

umbrellastudio contemporary arts

Umbrella Studio contemporary arts 482 Flinders Street Townsville

www.umbrella.org.au (07) 4772 7109

#DiamondYouth

admin@umbrella.org.au Open Mon-Fri 9-5pm & Sun 9-1pm