MANDY COPPES-MARTIN + ANNA SIMSON: RECIPROCITY

In a world increasingly driven by individual gain, it is important to pause and reflect on the concept of reciprocity. The practice of exchanging things for mutual benefit, reciprocity encompasses the ideals of balance, gratitude, and interconnectedness.

Coppes-Martin & Simson’s artworks delve into the profound relationship between humanity and the natural world. Through their works, the artists navigate the delicate boundary between micro and macro, past and future, to offer a profound visual narrative on the interplay between mankind and nature.

Coppes-Martin's work, crafted from silks and heritage textiles, embodies organic forms that blur the lines between the manmade and the natural. By drawing inspiration from nature's wonders, such as butterflies in the Pacific that drink turtles' tears to absorb saline and diatoms housed in glass that provide every second breath we take, the artist invites viewers to explore the intricate and symbiotic relationships that exist in the world around us.

Simson's work showcases her intuitive approach to capturing the collective consciousness of themes and relationships. Using mostly porcelain paper clay to work instinctively, leaving fingerprint marks and weaving threads of emotion and inspiration, the artist draws on indigenous wisdom and the often-unnoticed reciprocal relationships between flora, fauna and man.

Reciprocity challenges us to embrace the abstract nature of time and the complex interplay between past, present, and future. The exhibition invites individuals to confront their role in a world where human existence is intrinsically interwoven with the natural environment. It is a wake-up call, urging society to recognize our place within a wider ecosystem and to foster a sense of interconnectedness and stewardship.

As both artists beautifully encapsulate, the wider world is intimate and borderless, always entertaining the dance between the internal and external. However, it often eludes our physical sight, much like the intangible concept of time. Reciprocity provides a glimpse into this elusive realm, reminding us that everything on this Earth has a purpose, that we are part of a larger system that has thrived for millions of years.