Lindi Forde is a contemporary artist who works from her atelier in her home on the Mornington Peninsula. She began her journey as an artist in photography and turned to abstract painting in 2017. Her work is an exploration and investigation into how visual constraints can create connections and storytelling.
-
In her atelier with streams of afternoon sun beaming in, Lindi is surrounded by local sea vistas and undulating hills offering her daily inspiration. A large collection of art books she’s collected over the years sits nearby and continues to grow with a book on American artist Julie Mehretu the most recent arrival. “I’ll dip into an art book often – relishing a variety of artworks and tellings of life stories.”
-
Above: Details from Lindi's atelier
-
Listening to Lindi talk about her art and her process, it is evident that she is a born storyteller. She has worked to promote Australian artists during her time as chair for a decorative and fine arts society where lecturers, usually from the UK would speak about artists and art history. She then realised that rather than hearing about art, she’d like to be an artist.
-
“Each painting is a journey which takes me on an adventure, sometimes smooth sailing, other times rocky hillsides with steep inclines. My ending may be completely different to the one I or a viewer may imagine! I aim to give the viewer a happy ‘wow - let me take a closer look’ moment, be it on a wall or driving by a gallery front window. My intent is for each work to garner a deeper presence over time as the viewer develops a deeper connection with an artwork.”
-
Above: 'YOU'LL FIND ME HERE'
490 x 640mm
-
Lindi obtained a Bachelor of Photography from Photography Studies College in Melbourne. Photography provided her entry point to a formal understanding of image making, colour, documentary photography and initiated her ongoing love for paper. From the darkroom, digital cameras and photoshop to the iPhone, Lindi experimented and collected images in various digital data banks and exhibited her work.
-
Years later, in siesta mode holidaying in Palermo, Lindi scrolled through her Facebook notifications and an Introductory Course to Abstract Art popped up. She was ‘in’, had signed up and paid in five minutes flat! From that first class, Lindi has been in a constant thrall to paint and picture planes, techniques and texture. Attending the VCA Extended Art Practice course was the catalyst in transitioning from photography to painting.
-
-
“In each work, I set up a series of grid lines as a scaffolding with building blocks to connect myriad components. Motifs such as circles, arrows, a cross or gestural lines are included as details to connect up disparate themes. Sometimes I’ll reference current issues which occupy my thinking, travel experiences or a storyline – real or imagined.”
-
-
Lindi works with acrylic and an eclectic range of mark making tools such as pencils, old dental implements to scratch lines into a surface, champagne corks, masking tape and sandpaper. Her preferred surface is paper, especially heavy 640 gsm paper with deckled edges, however today she mostly works on board and occasionally canvas.
-
Her creative influencers include photographers Margaret Bourke White and Sebastian Selgado. As well as artists Colin McCahon, Elizabeth Cummings, Roy Jackson, Roger Kemp, Richard Diebenkorn and Julie Mehretu.
-
-
Lindi has an incredible penchant for stories. This undeniably passes through her work and into us when we experience her paintings. When asked if there are any particular stories of note that inspire her she shared this; “The book Ninth Street Women by Mary Gabriel transfixed me and the story of the five featured artists spurs me onwards.” As does your paintings for us Lindi!
-
You can view all of Lindi’s work here and come visit the gallery to experience them in person.