The overarching theme of Adelaide-based artist Nicola Semmens’ work is what she labels complex simplicity. Historically, still lifes as a genre have focused on foodstuffs that convey themes of wealth and prosperity. Instead, Semmens seeks to elevate the everyday, particularly treats that are mass produced or easily available. She especially likes using iconic food items, such as Frogg-cakes, Vegemite and Cadburys Favourites, circumventing their associations with consumer culture and elevating them to high art. This way, they are conferred a value of their own, allowing the easily accessible pleasures of life to be transformed into something whimsical or magical. Depicting reflections and mirror effects, Semmens chooses arrangements that often combine food with kitsch paraphernalia. These choices encourage the viewer to look closer, observe longer, and take pleasure in a simple display of modest comforts.
Featured image: Nicola Semmens, Who Likes Vegemite, 2021. Oil on canvas, 40 x 30cm. Courtesy: the artist.