This artwork is part of our Sydney Contemporary 2024 presentation, exhibiting at Carriageworks 5-8 September.

Amber Hearn’s latest body of work is a series of self-portraits woven into landscapes that capture the anticipation of the arrival of her daughter, speaking to both the emotional and physical shifts within the body. The works highlight the complexities of labour and childbirth, whilst encapsulating the symbiotic relationship between the pain and beauty of that experience.

Says Amber of this work, “Birthing Court is a painting that explores the duality of freedom and constraint experienced during my transition into new motherhood. The court forms symbolise the limitations, safety and freedom of physical expression. As a child whilst living in Tamworth, I often visited a nearby basketball court alone, finding it to be a safe zone, to think and reflect. Additionally, I attended the court with my team to play in competitions which was an opposite experience in this space. As such, the court has influenced my aesthetic language, representing both safety and constraint along with freedom and liberation.

“The court and veils also serve as framing devices for the visceral, body-sized organic marks that capture my physicality on the canvas. This work embodies and celebrates the journey of embracing change.”