First of all, let me apologize for the poor photographs. My big camera is away on service and I have had to resort to a little 'snap-shot' one.
click on images to enlarge
Title: 'Gammon Lampinen Family Tree'
Size: 60 x 90cm Date: June 2011
This painting was commissioned by a lovely Finnish girl as a gift to her Finnish-Australian nephews in Sydney. The brief was to create a 'family tree' in the midst of a landscape that included iconic references to both countries.
When I think of Scandinavia - of which Finland is part - I see images of forest animals, birch trees, red cottages and an abundance of birds. Look closely at the painting and you can also see typical 'Sami drawings' (Sami people = Scandinavia's indigenous folk) of a reindeer on the chimney of the cottage.
Australia is the home of some truly unique & iconic animals - the kangaroo (this one wearing 'Ugg boots'..!), and the yellow ridged Cockatoo, to name a couple.
I also wanted the painting to hold reference to the Aboriginal culture - there is a boomerang perched on a Gum tree branch, some indigenous carvings on the chimney of the 'Queenslander style' cottage, and also a circle of 'Aboriginal style' stars around the sun.
xx Charlotta
