Shadowing Lands is an exhibition about resilience, told through New Zealand nature and Rosalie Jurczenko’s own cultural experiences.
The exhibition follows on from Rosalie’s initial reaction on hearing that Ukraine was under fire in 2022. Her parents came to New Zealand in 1944 as Polish refugee children and as the impact of war was experienced firsthand, it is something they thought was in the past.
Shown through works such as Ukrainian Folk Costume, referencing women’s work, textiles, cultural survival, defiance and its endurance throughout history, Jurczenko explores resilience in culture when it’s under threat.
Native trees tell a similar story surviving harsh conditions, their tiny flowers often overlooked. They are depicted by their movement in the wind and growth patterns. Jurczenko connects visually to mountains, rivers and long stretches of fields, horses, sheep and the Wairarapa.
Energy flows through her work as if it’s part of a bigger whole, her palette is sourced from the natural world such as clouds, stones, sand and plant matter.
Artist Talk: Saturday, 9 August, 11am