Marion is a local artist based on the North-West Coast of Tasmania. Nature’s Roots is her second successful entry into Paper on Skin.
Her Artist Statement explains her passion for paper: ‘Paper art is a hobby and interest I’ve had for many years starting in high school art class. I find paper intriguing for its versatility and strength despite its weaknesses. Nature is an important theme that appears in my work. The irony of imitating nature with paper amuses me but also encourages me to use paper to remind viewers of its origins and original purpose. Reusing and recycling are key values for my work and respect for nature’.
At the time Marion was contemplating her entry for Paper on Skin, a devastating tragedy involving young lives lost struck her hometown. She experienced the waves of communal grief which turned people’s worlds upside down. Working through several design concepts, Marion eventually settled on the theme of the seasons - that there are new beginnings, and that time can heal. Although that pain may never go away, the cycle of life continues.
Marion states: ‘I have not made this design to impose my opinion on anyone, this is not a memorial but a way to depict my own grief and reactions to the tragedy.’
Marion’s 2020 Paper on Skin entry https://burnieartscouncil.com/film/2020/9/2/marion-kennedy-tas