Christa Coetzee
Mixed media artist Christa’s work is diverse. She enjoys everything from gilding, painting and ephemeral art, through to videography, fibre art, metalworking and wire, wood carving, sculpting and more.
Christa loves tackling the challenge of repurposing discarded materials to create decorative or functional objects.
My creative space is…
the most amazing shed, purpose-built in the northern suburbs of Brisbane. It is nestled among tall Eucalyptus trees. Birdsong is the soundtrack I create to. My patience paid off after working out of our garage, spare bedroom, and dining room for most of my creative life. Now, I can create to my heart's content in a well-designed space with everything at my fingertips.
My art journey began…
I have been creating naively since the day I was taught to hold a pen and dip a brush in pigment. Ever since my love for making art has adapted into an expressive multidisciplinary landscape.
My art has taught me…
To embrace incidentals — on so many levels. It removes preciousness and in return the angst that comes with perfectionism.
The last piece I created is...
'Dancing with Java’ — a mixed media artwork that continues my exploration of the intersection between technology and human creativity. It was inspired by the integration of computer languages in our lives.
I sought to capture the fluidity and dynamism of code through two people spiralling through a surreal landscape.
'Dancing with Java' invites us to contemplate the ways in which technology continues to shape our world and our relationship to it, and to marvel at the beauty that can emerge from this intersection.
My favourite tool for creating is…
a very primitive fountain pen, introduced to me by a friend who specialises in calligraphy. I have adapted the design to create my own pen and this amazing instrument is a mark-making tool that journeys most of my artworks into existence. I call it my Eco-Art-Pen. It can draw the finest of lines, and with a simple turn of the wrist create thick juicy lines or random jagged ones. This pen never fails to surprise me and often makes the corners of my mouth curl.
My biggest artistic challenge is…
often it is silly practical hurdles, like how to successfully create an oversize artwork on a canvas that will remain flat, fit in a truck and does not require a picture framer to assemble it on-site at its forever home.
The reason I became an artist is…
I followed my heart and it led me to this creative life.
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