Review - Susan Graham - Richmond Library

The Contemporary Art Society of Victoria Inc. presents ...

The Reef Collection - A selection of works in pen, watercolour pencil and textile

in the Budgeon’s display case, foyer Richmond Library

415 Church Street, Richmond

16 April 2024 to 7 July 2024

Report by Vicki Lam

Artist, Susanne Graham, has spent many years refining her art since her early years of learning to draw from her grandfather. Susanne went on to study a Textile Design and Development course at RMIT and is currently exploring the use of textiles with pen in the one piece.

Susanne has had 7 exhibitions in the past 11 years. Amongst these accolades, Susanne won “Best Non-traditional” at the 2018 Daylesford Art show and winner of “Best Still Life” at the 2017 Daylesford Art show. Other exhibitions include 2014 The Flower Gallery East Doncaster, 2017 Glasshouse Ballarat Botanical Gardens, 2018 The Red Door Studio Clunes Willaura Modern, Willaura, 2019 Anderson Mill, Smeaton Gardens Water and Earth. RADMAC Art Space, Ballarat, 2023 Accent Framing and Fine Arts Gallery, Ballarat.

Susanne's fascination with patterns has developed into unusual black and white works of art. Each of her pieces is unique and complex using patterns that she has collected and developed. Susanne is inspired by nature and the intricate patterns that form naturally, even on the smallest leaf. Her results showcase the beauty and delicate nature of the natural world around us, looking through her artistic eye to bring to life her vision in its unique manner, using black pen, watercolour, pencil and textile used to add colour to highlight and add a freshness to the piece and leading the eye to rest and bathe in the beauty of the colour that jumps off the page to add emphasis.

This exhibition in the Budgeon's Case at Richmond Library is the result of many years of work dedicated to highlighting a passion Susanne holds dear; being the plight of the Great Barrier Reef due to global warming and the resulting coral bleaching. Great wonder of the world, but it is in serious trouble. Since the 19th Century, our oceans have steadily warmed due to increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Coral reefs are very sensitive to ocean warming – even a 1-degree increase in water temperature can trigger bleaching. Susanne believes that the Great Barrier Reef has seen seven mass bleaching events between 1998 and 2024, all caused by rising ocean temperatures. Almost 80% of the reef is bleached, with limited recovery. While the water temperature continues to rise, the reef’s recovery is uncertain.

The aim of Susanne's work is to show how beautiful the Great Barrier Reef is in capturing its beauty before it is destroyed by these global events, hoping to raise awareness of the dangers facing one of the world's greatest wonders. All the fish and coral depicted in the twelve art works exhibited are species that inhabit the Great Barrier Reef. In her unique way of producing art work, Susanne highlights the delicate and frail nature of Australia's underwater flora in her unique way and showcasing its fauna with her flashes of colour popping out of her art pieces to add further depth and texture, providing delight to the viewers.

When the viewer observes the intricate nature of Susanne’s work showcased at the Budgeon's Case at Richmond Library, one gets an appreciation of the importance the Great Barrier Reef is in the eco system of our great oceans and how Australia and Australians play an important role in saving this valuable reef for generations to come.