TRACEY DEEP

ARTIST. MOTHER. CONSCIOUS ACTIVIST.

A curious child at heart, fuelled by her love and passion for mother nature and art, a humble giver and awe-inspiring woman.

Tracey Deep is a sculptor, installation and floral artist who is drawn to whimsical and natural forms. Her work is a reflection of our world and a call to action. Tracey’s career as a floral sculptor began over two decades ago but her path as an artist began at a young age. As a child, she was fascinated by nature and intrigued by the life and work of artists like Picasso, van Gogh and Modigliani. As long as she can remember, Tracey felt deeply connected to the spirits of artists and free thinkers.

Tracey’s first school project paved the way to working with texture, pattern, shape and colour by examining the history of stones. These days she takes us into her world of ethereal, mystical installations that create immersive experiences of stories from the land and its people. Every piece enriches our senses and our spirit: art for Tracey is an expression of the soul.

“Mother nature is my muse and teacher.”

 

Tracey’s new show “Ancient Forest” has launched on 13th of August at Saint Cloche in Paddington, transforming the gallery into an enchanting dreamscape. Make sure you don’t miss out on the opportunity to experience her breathtaking work before the exhibition closes on  the 30th this month.

The exhibition was inspired by the devastating bush fires that raged in Australia last summer, threatening and destroying ancient ecosystems. The fires caused the extinction of several endangered species and the death of more than a billion animals, and resulted in the loss of at least 80% of world heritage areas in the Blue Mountains and more than half of the rainforests in Queensland. Tracey felt deeply the desire to make the impact of these bush fires visible and tangible. This exhibition includes art works with burned wood from affected farmers, as well as other foraged botanicals woven together with recycled industrial materials. By combining these elements she creates and recreates sacred symphonies that signify the majesty and fragility of nature. Death and destruction become palpable and accordingly urge us to acknowledge the state of our planet and how we interact with it.

Tracey’s art is a homage to nature. As she says, “Mother nature is my muse and teacher”. Her installations help us to reconnect with nature’s beauty and the mystical connection that is always available to us through mother earth. Tracey’s great respect for the ancient wisdom of our Indigenous people’s culture and its synergy with our environment is key to this.

Visiting Tracey at her studio in Redfern was like being allowed to participate in a sacred ceremony. Tracey works with the help of her mother and daughter, three generations of women at one table sharing their life and work. Tracey’s practice draws on ancient crafts like weaving and plaiting, using natural fibres in combination with recycled industrial materials to create natural structures and textures – like the tree root system which is the centre piece of “Ancient Forest”.

Tracey is a pioneer in her field and admired for her authenticity. Her sustainable art is part of private and public collections, including the Art Gallery of NSW, the National Gallery of Victoria, the Wolgan Valley Emirates Resort and Macquarie Bank. Her work was recently featured at Vogue’s 60th birthday in Sydney.

“We need to protect nature so she can protect us.”

 

Tracey considers herself lucky to create art which raises awareness for matters she deeply cares about. She loves creating art works and following their path, knowing the joy they give people, but she also highlights sustainability. Tracey reminds us: ” We need to protect nature so she can protect us.” Her work underlines this belief. As a conscious consumer Tracey makes choices with the smallest possible environmental footprint, choosing ethical brands when it comes to fashion, buying organic, local food and recycling and reusing as much as possible.

This year has been tough for many people. Tracey says: “When times are particularly hard like now, I go and spend time in nature. This is where I find solace. Her magic regenerates my spirit and soul. She has all the answers. It helps me a lot to maintain a positive outlook in life and appreciate everything that is. The magic and miracles of nature remind me that everything will be fine.

Click below for a pdf version of this interview:
A seat at the table_Tracey Deep

Editor: Alexandra McLeavy.
All images used with Tracey Deep’s permission. Photo credit for artist portrait and ‘Anciet Forest’ art work Nicholas Watt.