Anja Jagsch

I love nature – as many of us do! It brings balance in our lives, is a place to open up the soul. We have a strong bond to the environment we grow up in. For me this was the Rhine river valley in Germany, with the green hills and lush meadows of the Black Forest. Better than any garden I'd forage for berries, greens, mushrooms – a deep connection. Moving to Australia, I was compensated with beautiful beaches and a diverse and fascinating arid country. The knowledge about plants however wasn't readily available. This body of work draws on the notions of collecting, learning and connecting to my new home.

I love Australian plants and the varied landscapes – they give me inspiration for my art. My passion for the basic things in life is also reflected in my work. It is playful yet simple and evokes the calmness that is present in nature. The process I predominantly use is called 'lost wax cast', where the actual plant material or wax is replaced by silver in a burnout process.