Hometown: Darwin
Based in: Darwin, Australia
Sonia Martignon’s work addresses the precarious state of our natural world. Armed with the belief that all living things are connected by the habitat that we share, the work aims to capture our precious wilderness, documenting its riches of colour, shape, spirit and mood. It pays homage to the fertile habitats that are being threatened daily which, in turn, threatens mankind’s own existence.
Sonia’s artworks record Northern Australia’s fragile and remote landscapes. The pieces are hand cut forms, a device developed to emphasise shadows, space and place. Her intricate landscapes and cut out wall sculptures document an Arcadian paradise, remote, almost untouched locations she has been visiting since she was a child. Sonia’s art demonstrates a belief that mankind has much to learn from nature.
Sonia holds a Bachelor of Arts - Fine Art and has participated in multiple group and curated shows across Australia. 2018 saw Sonia have her first solo exhibition in Melbourne, followed in 2019 with a solo exhibition in Darwin. She featured at The Other Art Fair in Sydney 2019 and was selected to exhibit in the 2020 Melbourne exhibition ‘Exploration 20’, showcasing ten emerging Australian artists. A Finalist in the Korean Australian Art Foundation Art Prize, Sonia’s work continues to see a growing stable of private collectors.
Sonia Martignon, Australia
Painting
$ 1,050
What inspires you?
I am deeply inspired by nature and wild landscapes.
Describe your creative process.
I begin with field-trips to photograph and document the landscape; I compose my paintings at the time of taking each photo. In the studio I simplify the images, reducing detail. I make preparatory line drawings or more detailed pencil or gouache studies to familiarise myself with the scene. I transfer my composition onto timber which I hand-cut using an electric saw. This is a time consuming but important aspect of my work. Finally, I begin painting. This never follows any strict plan but unfolds slowly through problem solving and applying colours that capture the memory and atmosphere of place.
Where do you go for inspiration?
I venture to remote regions of the Northern Territory. The outback is full of life and wild beauty.