Sharleen King is a contemporary visual artist based in Perth, Western Australia.

ARTIST STATEMENT – 2015

Life is full of the unknown and yet there exists one certainty – one day our lives will end. Despite our best efforts, our bodies will succumb to age, illness or injury, we will endure the loss of loved ones and will eventually face our own mortality.

My work seeks to connect the viewer to this natural process, which is sometimes sudden and unexpected, or gradual and foreseen.

Layering of fragile materials is a fundamental element of my work. The subsequent degradation of these materials serves to reference the inevitable degeneration of the physical body, together with the deep sense of loss and absence experienced by those who are left to grieve.

I aim to produce work that is both ambiguous and sensitive in its approach to a topic often met with discomfort, fear or even revulsion. By doing so, I hope to evoke an emotional response from the viewer and encourage them to see this process as worthy of reflection.

ARTIST STATEMENT – 2013

Nature prevails in providing inspiration for my artwork. From the most expansive vista to the smallest of life forms, the ever-changing natural environment offers limitless material for artistic exploration, experimentation and expression.

My recent practice is mostly concerned with the transient, yet enduring nature of living organisms and has prompted an investigation of both decay and regeneration.

I have chosen to mimic the fragility and impermanence of life through the deliberate use of ephemeral media, such as paper, plants and natural dyes produced from organic materials. My process does not allow for the production of a definite, pre-determined or exact outcome. Just as in nature, much is left to chance. As plants, animals and people are subject to change according to age, health and environmental conditions, so too, many of these artworks may alter with time.

While many contemporary artists choose to explore the impact of humanity upon the natural environment, I am equally fascinated by the impact of nature upon the built environment. I see great beauty in the weathering of man-made structures and although the majority of my current artworks are produced without the use of in-organic materials, I enjoy the creative possibilities of peeling paint, melted plastic and rusty metal.

Perhaps, this is my attempt to restore the natural order to that which is unnatural.