Congratulations to Stephanie Garner for placing as a finalist in the 5th Edition!

Who are you?

My name is Stephanie Garner and I am an Australian contemporary visual artist based in Victoria. I received my BCA Honours in 2016 from Deakin University and later completed my Masters of Contemporary Art from the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne in 2020. My practice explores themes of environmentalism, femininity and mysticism in the varied mediums of painting, photography, drawing and collage.

Can you discuss the inspiration and thought process behind your winning work "Edith"?

The photographic work Edith acts as a portrait of my great grandmother, concerning her psychiatric institutionalisation after her experiences of psychic enmeshment. The work is highly personal and utilises the philosophies of feminism and Spiritualism to discuss the darker aspects of my family history. 

"Edith" seems to be part of a series, can you tell us about it?

The photographic work Edith is the central piece a part of a series entitled Flowerface which is a feminist reimagining of my great grandmother’s life and clairvoyant story. The photographic body of work depicts me as the embodiment of the character of ‘Flowerface’.

The work experiments with wet plate analogue photographic processes, establishing a discussion of inherited trauma through the history of Spiritualist photography. My personal connection to these histories of the suppressed female mystic wanders throughout the works as the ‘Flowerface’ character. The remembrance of this bygone symbolic language asks us to acknowledge the ghosts of our past and to make peace with them.

Can you explain the technical process of creating "Edith"?

The work is created in a large format camera using the darkroom techniques of wet plate collodion photography. The work is an experiment with this technique by scratching the plate, intentional imperfect pours of the chemicals onto the plate and disturbing developing times to create disruption on the surface of the image. In the image and connecting series, I am costumed in vintage lace and wearing an adorned mask of dried strawflowers. The performative aspect of the character I embody speaks to the Spiritualist movement and the treatment of gender and mysticism in the late nineteenth century. 

What do you hope to communicate with your work?

My intention with Edith and extending to my broader art practice is to communicate ideas that expand our ways of seeing and the perceptions we hold of our current realities.

Do you have a particular piece that you view as your most accomplished? Why? 

I don’t have a particular piece that I view as my most accomplished, I always want to push my practice with my ideas and techniques.

Can you discuss why you choose photography/painting as a medium for your work and voice as opposed to others?

I consider the artist's voice and eye as equal aspects of the work. Both photography and painting depend on the composition set by the artist to tell the story which is what I connect to most and appreciate as a discipline.

Have you experimented with other mediums? If so, which ones and how?

I’ve previously worked and experimented with drawing, collage, watercolour, installation and film. I do enjoy working with these mediums but at this stage, I have a strong focus on photography and painting. 

Can you talk about your biggest learning experience during the process of creating your works?

I don’t believe I can identify what would be my biggest lesson because in my experience every work has its own lesson. Whether it be creating in the studio or exhibiting in galleries, every artwork is an opportunity to learn about the practice, the technique, the concept, the approach, the medium, etc. I believe that it is beneficial to be open to listening to what the practice is trying to tell you and to follow that. 

Can you discuss your biggest success since starting your artistic journey?

The biggest success would be my experience creating and exhibiting my first body of work in a gallery at the very beginning of my practice. This exhibition was well received and encouraged me to keep pursuing my vision and career in the arts.

What projects are you working on currently? Can you discuss them?

I’m working on a new series of large scale oil paintings that aims to explore the multidimensionality of plant perception and the spiritual implications of expanding our sensory experience.

Lastly, I like to ask everyone what advice they would give to their fellow artists/photographers, what is your advice?

Be strong.

To view more of Stephanie Garner’s work

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