State of Flux

A monotype print in oil paint on black Stonehenge paper, 15 x 21cm. This artwork was created by Ella Senbruns in 2024 as part of ‘Alchemy’, a group exhibition at Land Street Gallery, Toowong QLD.

Within Senbruns’ work for ‘Alchemy’, her surreal mark making is orientated around the pencil. The artist reflects on ‘nigredo’ (Italian: blackness), which is symbolic within alchemical tradition for the first step of transformation: chaos and melancholy. This series of six monotypes on black paper depict moments of emotional turmoil and alchemical symbolism.

‘State of Flux’ is an abstracted depiction of a crow and human figure. The two appear as though they have been dismantled and merged together. The image of a crow is historically associated with nigredo.

For more information about the exhibition, visit Land Street Gallery’s website.

This artwork was displayed using a string hanging system. This string lines visible within the photography are not a permanent feature of this artwork.