What would Tarsila think?

This little painting is inspired by Brazilian modernist Tarsila do Amaral’s ‘Abaporu’ (1928).
 
I have always been fascinated by Tarsila and her work and this is my curious and imagined contemplation of what Tarsila might think about the state of today’s world. With the composition, patterns and line work I have had a lot of fun unpacking potential interpretations of the world’s complexity, contradictions and the ongoing tension and exploration of identity and culture across the world.
 
This work was featured in the 2025 Brunswick Street Gallery Small Works Prize.