Bigger Than Us

Sydney Road Gallery presents two new exhibitions—a solo show ‘Bigger Than Us’ by Jaimee Paul and a group show titled ‘From Where We Stand’.

‘Bigger Than Us’ will showcase a body of work inspired by B-Roll stills taken from acclaimed ocean feature documentary, ‘The Map to Paradise’ which enlisted multi award-winning actor and activist Martin Sheen as the Executive Producer.

The exhibition features a series of framed water colour paintings on canvas depicting marine wild-life, using Payne’s greys and blues set against Ms Paul’s signature bone-white background.

"After I saw ‘The Map to Paradise’ it made me feel hopeful, because I could see evidence and stories about people who were putting purpose before profit," said Jaimee Paul.

The concept for ‘The Map to Paradise’ came from two local Sydney directors, James Sherwood and Danielle Ryan, and captures the story of a global movement to protect our planet’s oceans. The documentary recently received a four out of five-star rating from Today’s Richard Wilkins.

"A part of the film’s outreach plan has been to activate community spaces in creative and vibrant ways, and Jaimee Paul’s artwork series of B-roll from the film perfectly complements that vision," said Danielle Ryan.

Ms Paul’s art documents important issues our planet is facing like extinction and ocean conservation.

"My portraits have an ethereal quality, as if the delicate faunal subjects have already begun to phase out of existence. This spectral quality is an implication of man-made climate catastrophe and the threat it poses to ocean ecology," said Ms Paul.

"There are all sorts of different issues that people become overwhelmed by, but I feel art has the power to break through that."

10 per cent of the exhibition’s profits will go towards ‘The Map to Paradise’ outreach campaign which works towards having the film shown in regional communities and schools.

"I believe everybody has the power to make a positive impact in their everyday life and for me that is ‘Art for Purpose’, so I create my artworks and exhibitions in the hopes to raise funds or awareness for different issues facing nature," said Ms Paul.

"The possibility of change rests on our own ability to believe we can do it."

The Sydney Road Gallery group show ‘From Where We Stand’ presents a thoughtful curation of works which consider where we are, our place in time and our reluctance to seize moments of possibility as time congeals into history around us.

The artists embark on a journey of practice-led introspection through a collection of unique paintings, sculptures and ceramics. All works on display are for sale.

Opening Night: Saturday 25 May 3:00pm–6:00pm.