Shifting Sands of Land and Memory features a new series of acrylic paintings by Magan-djin/Brisbane-based artist Paula Payne. Drawing inspiration from recent time spent as Artist in Residence at the Broken Hill Art Exchange—located on Wilyakali Country in far-west New South Wales—this new series captures the emotive resonance of the surrounding landscapes. Payne’s abstracted recollections reflect her travels through the Menindee Lakes in Kinchega National Park and the long drive through the desert from Mildura to Adelaide.
Essay writer Demi Conrad states, “Undoubtedly, the notion of time is posited through multiple lenses within this body of work through subtle nuances of colour, incongruous structures and abstracted forms. These elements provide a framework that reflect Payne’s ongoing exploration of the land’s essence and its relationship to time within an historical, colonial, and archaeological context.
Image: Paula Payne, Time Trace, 2025, Acrylic on Canvas, 120 x 100 cm Image: Louis Lim. Courtesy of the artist and Onespace.
