A step into the world of art was inevitable for Erica Soman.
The creative from Thames said her hometown in the 1960s to 70s was “art-centric” and called herself lucky for the strong art teachers she had at Thames High School.
Once she realised that art-making engaged an “infinitely broad range of skills” and intellect, plus her excitement for knowing she could go to art school: “I knew that becoming an artist was my path”, she told The Profile.
She grew up on land that four generations of her family lived on, in a house that had a view over the Firth of Thames toward Miranda, she said.
It’s what makes her upcoming art exhibition in Miranda so significant.
Sustain/ing will showcase works on paper by Erica and fellow artist, friend and Elam School of Fine Arts lecturer Christine Hellyar at Miranda Farm Gallery on September 20 to October 13.
It will be a mix of large graphite botanical drawings and large tissue paper artworks.
“The exhibition also plays tribute to the network that holds us as artists. Christine Hellyar has been my lecturer, employer, friend and beacon of hope since I went to Elam Art School.
“Christine’s fluid, vibrant yet delicate, alive yet mysterious drawings are a part of this show.”
Erica said gallery owner Annie Wilson had shown Christine’s work before, as well as that of Warren Viscoe, two highlight respected artists. “Sadly Warren Viscoe is no longer with us but I vividly recall his works shown at Miranda Farm Gallery.”
The artist said there was “something poetic” about showing her works in the landscape she used to draw so often.
“I have been working on an on-going series of botanical drawings based on the seasonal blooms of my garden since 2019.
“The blooms I focus on are grown with love in my own sprawling, vintage seaside garden on a tidal estuary,” she said.
Her drawings pay tribute to the persistence of nature in the face of humanities disconnect from Earth, she said.
“These works are either in graphite on large sheets of Hahnemuhle paper or made with tissue paper, which I cut to form geometries and then carefully glue together, followed by working on top with watercolours and ink.
There’s one thing Erica hopes people will take away from the exhibition: “Plants give so much to this planet, to our towns, and to our neighbourhoods to our ecology.
“These works honour the biological role of a flower in our continuation as a species,” she said.
“I hope that these works contribute to an awareness of the generosity of the biological.”
Something Erica highlighted was that “artists do not make work in isolation”.
“For this show I wanted to acknowledge that concept, and specifically acknowledge Christine Hellyar’s support. She has worked with Annie and myself to release a number of her drawings for the exhibition.
“There are areas of crossover in our artworks, as well as areas of difference. Both have a core dedication to the botanic world, its mysteries, science and import.”
After Sustain/ing, Erica plans to head to the Garden Festival in Taranaki, where she will show work with contemporary New Zealand artists Karl Maughan and Jeff Thomson.
“I’m really looking forward to showing botanic-themed works in the context of a large country homestead and garden.”
DETAILS: Sustain/ing is open to the public from September 20 to October 13 at Miranda Farm Gallery, 1107 Miranda Road, Miranda. Phone 021 0256 7264 to find out viewing times.
