Artist statement

My works are made entirely from discarded papers (product packaging, advertising brochures, posters and billboards) salvaged from the urban environment. The retrieved papers are precisely cut into ‘tiles’ of paper, collated according to hue and shape, and re-assembled into complex geometric designs, which transforms the visual ‘noise’ of merchandising into the contemplative order and logic of geometry.

The process of gathering and collating discarded fragments into complex designs is reminiscent of quilting, intricate mosaic tile work and other artisan practices. As the pedestrian walks along the panoramic hoarding, the geometries transform and evolve one into another along its complete length, referencing physical commutes and journeys.

The familiar everyday detritus that I repurpose, also functions as a social history and index of the present day by recording evidence of contemporary consumption, waste and the prevailing cultural milieu of the specific urban environment of Melbourne in the 21st Century.

About the artist

Elizabeth Gower is a highly acclaimed Australian artist who lives and works in Melbourne.

She has been a seminal figure in the Australian contemporary art community for nearly 40 years. From her inspiring feminist works of the late 1970s to her recent collage practice with its focus on environmental sustainability and critique of consumerism and waste, her art practice has continued to have a profound influence on the work of other artists.

Elizabeth was a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer at the Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne and is currently an Honorary Senior Fellow at University of Melbourne, Faculty of Fine Arts and Music.

She has held over 50 one-person exhibitions in Australia, United States, United Kingdom, Europe and United Arab Emirates, has been the recipient of numerous grants, awards and commissions, and her works are held in private and public collections nationally and internationally.