Elli Bardas-Artist

Based in Melbourne, Australia, my practice is a celebration of spirit – yours, mine, the worlds and as such, plays at the intersection of human, spirit, nature. I believe we are extraordinary beings living in this extraordinary world. A world with infinite possibilities, where every cell is pulsating with its unique rhythm of life. 

 

My current focus, with multiple iterations of Wild Things, is visualising the unique, quirky, exuberant human spirit at the core of each of us. I am imagining a liberated world where we remember we are funny, joyous, weird and wonderful individuals, full of love, hope and healing for our futures.

 

By obscuring defining bodily features, Wild Things focus’ on inclusive, diverse and love filled ways of being. Maybe in remembering our shared humanity we can find space for respect, inclusion, and connection and in doing so create momentum for a hopeful future for all. A very small and very large thing.

 

The origins of Wild Things started in 2022, when after two years of Melbourne lock down, I felt like I was drowning under a blanket of fear, hate and greed and was suffocating on messages to confirm and obey.

 

Rather than succumb to the powerlessness that was gaining traction in my mind, I chose to heal myself by consciously making work that exudes love, joy and abundance, diversity and inclusion. I decided to create some light in the dark.

 

As fear and hate often start with bodily differences I obscure defining bodily features to allow space for all.  As an empowering reference to personal eminence, I create a variety of horns and auras made with readily available, colourful materials, including feathers, studs, artificial flowers, pipe cleaners and pom poms. The use of colourful, easily accessible materials references ideas around joy and play as well as aiming to flatten art making hierarchies.

 

Each image is a celebration of our individuality and is designed to convey feelings of joy, hope and empowerment. By combing of colour, playful materials and empowering or playful poses, Wild Things I am wondering who we can be when we are free to express all of ourselves.

 

I think of these portraits as talismans, acting as a reminder of the power and beauty to be found in being our full selves. I am not interested in the human condition.  Instead, my practice uses expanded portrait photography to explore ideas around human potential.

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Wishing you a life filled with magic.