The work of Japanese-Australian artist Elysha Rei reflects her ongoing inquiry into her cultural heritage, most commonly through paper cut works, public art, and murals. The artist mines personal and historical archives to embed narrative and symbolism within a Japanese design aesthetic, reproducing patterns and motifs uncovered through research or in nature itself. Graduating with a Bachelor of Visual Arts in 2008, she has exhibited her own work, curated exhibitions, and managed cultural spaces across Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Thailand, the Netherlands, and the United States. In 2017 she honed her design-thinking and craftsmanship skills during a residency at the Museum of Brisbane, and late last year staged a major solo exhibition at Noosa Regional Gallery. Brisbane locals might recognise Rei’s work from the numerous public commissions she has completed for Brisbane City Council, including a series of balustrades, projections, and sandblasted pavement designs. With its reassuring sense of order and mesmeric quality, Rei’s work momentarily anchors viewers in the here and now – where more and more of us are wanting to be.
Featured image: Elysha Rei, Outback Tracks, 2021. Hand cut paper, 50 x 70cm. Courtesy: the artist.