Eleni Rivers

Statement

Artist’s Statement

My preoccupation for some time has been with the world of seeds, plants and gardens. It is this delicate connection between our human state, and nature, that fascinates me.

The image of the garden perfectly represents the quality of regeneration. From the dark, dank soil, a seed pushes its way to the light. The cycle of life and death, and life again, takes place in the garden. Disease, decay and rebirth – everything returns to the soil, the big black void – there is no such thing as waste!

These paintings contain a world unto themselves that seem utterly self sufficient, beautiful, handsome, lyrical, threatening, seductive all at the same time. Much of the imagery seems to suggest seeds, wombs, flowers, roots and bones…as though the soil is the repository of all the "stuff" of my human existence. From this prima materia, rich compost is formed creating the ideal conditions to support a new life.

Through alignment with the cycles, moods, and rhythms of nature, here, in these paintings,
I find a way to explore the foundations of my own humanity in the great cycle of things.