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, “My Waterways continues my exploration of water’s profound significance and importance during pregnancy and the experience of giving birth to my daughter in water.

“Water, essential to our body composition, nurtures the growth and development of a new life, while facilitating the movement of nutrients and minerals through our bodies. My experience of healing some elements of my chronic disease, from drinking only spring water, deepens my connection to this element, inspiring reflections on how it flows through me and into my growing child.

“This painting features recurring blue tones and water motifs, interspersed with gentle and vibrant pinks representing flesh and blood. Earthy tones and bold colour blocks anchor the work, grounding it in my personal connection to my home and the surrounding landscape where I gave birth.”