WHILE Ipswich’s arts scene continues to flourish with festivals, exhibitions and creative opportunities, local artist Emma Van Den Elsen believes there is still room for a new generation of voices to be seen and heard.
Van Den Elsen has turned that belief into action, recently launching her first community exhibition, Sweet and Sharp, through her new creative collective, Pisces House.
Featuring 14 emerging artists, the exhibition aimed to celebrate young and alternative creatives while creating the kinds of opportunities she once longed for herself.
“There are a lot of excellent opportunities for artists to get involved in here in Ipswich,” Van Den Elsen said.
The exhibition, titled Sweet and Sharp, explored the duality of the human experience through works centred on family dynamics, the inner child, mental health and the female experience.
“It was an exploration of life’s beauties and its harsher realities,” Van Den Elsen said.
For Emma, creating opportunities for emerging artists is about far more than simply hanging artwork on gallery walls.
“It’s imperative that we continue giving young and emerging artists space to exhibit their work,” she said.
Van Den Elsen believes Ipswich’s rapid growth presents an opportunity for its cultural heart to continue to beat.
“Art is so important,” she said.
“Throughout history, people have turned to art during humanity’s lowest moments.
“If someone walks away feeling seen, even if it’s just for a moment, then we’ve achieved something meaningful.”
