Take Me to the River is an in-depth exploration of a recent journey I took to the Savage and Pieman Rivers on the far North-West coast of Tasmania. This trip served not only as the source of inspiration for this show but became an impetus for self-reflection. I was intrigued by the inherent vulnerability I felt surrounded by the vast landscape, with its rugged terrain – raw and untouched – uncharted territory for a girl from Barbados - an island nearly 16,000 kilometres away. I was fascinated by the dappled light along the treetops, the unique texture of the leaves, and above all, the salient nature of the river. As I stood on the bridge overlooking the Savage, it was as if time stood still, allowing me to reflect on the nature of solitude and its ability to leave you lost and found in equal measure. Life’s encumbrances can accumulate, and sometimes we don’t realise how heavy they are until we put them down. My experience at the river was cathartic, allowing me to surrender some of life’s burdens. I was content unreservedly following where the river led. It was a freeing experience and one I tried to emulate in this collection. During my exploration I was awed by the quiet dignity of the trees as they overlooked the water, seeming almost like guardians, they provided a natural path for the river to flow. I was intrigued by the duality of this relationship, quite often seeing the sacrifice of fallen trees scattered along the way. Upon returning to the studio, I was compelled to capture this juxtaposition between the stability of the trees, the cursive flow of the river, and the interplay between the two. It’s hard to completely quantify the instant connection I had with this unique landscape. But in some ways, I felt as though the river’s journey mirrored my own. I was inspired by its strength and resilience, unwavering in the face of obstacles, forever flowing forward.