It’s better to travel: Cassandra Dove in Summer Showcase

Tyger Gallery’s brilliant Summer Showcase features the stunning work of Cassandra Dove.

The saying ‘it’s better to travel well than arrive’ is intended to encourage people to appreciate the detail in the moment - to enjoy the experience of the journey, wherever it leads you.

And great art takes you on a journey - what you see when you first look at a piece may not be what you see months later. Over time those details reveal themselves - some as mere things you notice along the way, some as significant points of reference.

Cassandra Dove is a rising star Canberra artist whose work doesn’t just invite you to take a journey, but also invites you into the artist’s own travels.

Tyger is thrilled to welcome her to our Summer Showcase with a gloriously eclectic, warm, intriguing and colourful collection of works.

From the energy of Uluru to the vibrancy of Japan and on to the historic houses of the ACT, Cassandra’s outstanding work at Tyger for the Summer Showcase highlights an artist whose creative style is constantly evolving while remaining distinct and recognisable.

“My creative process involves constant exploration and each year brings a new evolution of painting in which I follow different paths within subject matter and style,” she says.

“Rather than pursuing a particular aesthetic within my painting, I allow inspiration and my experiences with the sources of inspiration to dictate the direction of the work.”

A full time artist working out of Canberra’s Gorman Arts Centre, Cassandra is deeply inspired by landscape and developing a personal connection to a place.

“My work involves reconstructing my lived experience of travel in various places as guided by my memory of the colours, textures and feelings I experienced whilst there,” Cassandra says.

“One of my greatest passions is travelling and feel my creative process is fuelled by a similar sense of curiosity and adventure. That being said, I also feel drawn to create abstract paintings based on a drive in the countryside, a philosophy or even a colour that has captivated me.”

Her  work at Tyger is in three distinct collections - all influenced by places she has visited.

“‘The Heartland Collection’ are mostly abstract representations of my experiences in Uluru and Kata Tjuta National Park,” she says.

“Reflected within the mixed media works were emotions evoked by the magnificent scenery and contrasting colours, and the deep connection to Country that I felt whilst I was there. The liveliness of paint strokes captures the nature and energy that permeates throughout the environment.”

“Japan’s rich culture and landscape inspired a collection of paintings whose aim was to invite the viewer to ‘Experience Japan’ through the brushstrokes of an artist. Some paintings are a direct response to the visual elements of the landscape, whilst others are drawn from my personal experience within an environment.”

“The work was influenced by my interaction with historical monuments, shrines, artefacts, traditional items and rituals. I enjoyed the challenge of recreating a sense of the emotions I felt whilst I was there such as the taste of ramen noodles, the coolness of the bamboo forest or the sense of calm and purpose that Japanese people seem to exude.”

“And I am delighted to share with Tyger three paintings that were selected as finalists in Art Prizes. These are very unique paintings that served as creative explorations where I challenged myself to try out different styles and techniques.”

She says she hopes viewers seeing the works get a sense of her own wonderment at the places she has visited, but are ultimately drawn to works for one clear reason.

“People are often drawn to one of my paintings because they feel a connection to the place that inspired a painting,” she says.

“I hope that people feel drawn to a particular painting simply because ‘they just love it’. Especially regarding abstract works, I don’t believe you need to understand a painting to know that you like it.”

Summer Showcase runs until 3 January at Tyger.

Don’t forget we’ve got extended opening hours this December! From this week we’re open Thursdays 12-4, in addition to our normal Friday to Sunday 10-4 opening hours.

We’ll also be open for Yass’ Christmas Late Night Shopping evenings on 14 and 21 December.