Bio
Artist’s Statement
"I create Land Biographies as a medium through which to visually represent the land's value and beauty in such a way that others can be inspired by it, enough to care.
The visual representations encompass the scale of research work needed to fully understand the environment from a micro to macro perspective. This involves a continual building process starting with field sketches, colour swatches, texture samples, field collections, initial artworks, botanic drawings and illustrations. As my sensitivity for the landscapes' value and beauty develops, I move on to creating sweeping landscapes, and larger completed pencil and watercolour mixed-media artworks, to help generate care through a transferred feeling for this special place.
The Land Biographies can then take the format of a large leather-bound journal, an individual saleable or commissioned artwork, or a public exhibition."
Dr Robbie van Hemert
Robbie van Hemert
Field Study of the Liverpool Plains NSW
14ft pencil panorama sketch (section of)
Land Biography, 2014
This quote means so much to me!
It encapsulates the very reason for eventually undertaking a PHD in Creative Practice, which was to use my art as a communication tool for environments that needed to have their story told. These can be places of great beauty, generous places, places we need for both physical and emotional reasons, and often they are under threat.
I wanted to attempt to represent the beauty in their story in such a way that others would be inspired by it, enough to care.
I was aware that we cannot continue to dictate care for a place if people have no connection to it. So my PhD research involved exploring this philosophy, connecting with a place is fundamental to caring for it, and indeed if this is the case, how to establish this all-important critical connection, in order to generate care.
"Land Biography"
Through the PhD I developed a system of land recording to help establish this connection, under the Trade Mark "Land Biography."
I became fascinated by the ‘Connection Process’ between people and places. As an artist and in a way an educator, I would need to represent a place in such a way that people could understand what it should mean to them.
Factual information was a large component in appealing to their conscience, but the real carrying power to persuade people to care came through a different element, and on another plane. It came through feelings, through stirring emotions, through sensitivity.
As artists, we can access sensitivity, and I feel this privilege comes with an obligation to reveal meaning.
NOTE: On the use of the word ‘Educator” in this context -
“Educators” are people who have deeply connected with a place, seen its beauty and understood its value, and in response they have set about building a legacy to persuade others to care for it.
"Legacies of Care"
I love exploring land recording methods through illustrated leather-bound journals, archival quality papers, and mixed-media. I love sourcing meaningful places, the integrity of leaving places in better condition than we found them, the comfort of generational inheritances, and the positivity of creating legacies.
I am passionate about rural Australia and world natural environments, particularly Africa.
Yet strangely, it is only now on my journey that I have come to see my Land Biographies as "Legacies of Care".
I love projects big and small such as the 'Liverpool Plains Legacy' depicted above in the macro14ft pencil panorama landscape. These Projects have reached their goal posts because of the generous sponsorship made by like-minded carers. I can't thank them enough!
As special as these bigger projects have been, there is so much I've yet to learn and do, and I feel the urge to move on.
You see I believe that beauty is the bravest thing on earth, and as our greatest source of inspiration, I am eager to see it go on, not only day after day, but for all time! I will always create with this in mind.
To see my Portfolio and Liverpool Plains Exhibition.
An Invitation
I would love your company on this latter part of my journey to find ways to reveal beauty not only in the landscape, but also to find meaning in our connection to it!
I share monthly sneak previews of my latest artworks and updates with an exclusive list of art lovers, which you are invited to become part of. (See below)
I've always found great rewards in working on projects together!
Robbie van Hemert
"Sometimes I think beauty is the bravest thing on earth.
It goes on day after day in spite of all the ugliness man can bring it"
Sir Laurens van der Post, The Hunter and the Whale, Chapter 13