Tiarna Herczeg
Kuku Yalanji artist Tiarna Herczeg’s works are vividly colourful, abstract representations of Country and felt ancestral roots flowing from the artist onto the canvas.
Words: Holly Terry | Photography: Aaron Viii & HAKE House of Art
‘I don't believe my works are conceptual because of my cultural identity, but when I'm working in an abstract, minimal way, at times it definitely plays in my mind,’ says Tiarna Herczeg. Photo: Aaron Viii
‘It takes confidence to stand in front of an artwork that uses two colours and shapes and say, “I’m proud of this work and there is something to learn from this”,’ says Tiarna Herczeg. Photo: Aaron Viii
Opening night at Tiarna Herczeg’s exhibition, JUWA, at Hake House of Art. Photo: Courtesy of HAKE House of Art
Photo: Courtesy of HAKE House of Art
Eora-based artist Tiarna Herczeg’s ritualistic creative practice is a deeply personal extension of themself, and by virtue, their cultural identity. Allowing their ancestral knowledge to flow through them onto material, there has always been a calling to create.
Tiarna explains that there is little separation between life and creating, coexisting in all of their actions, ‘Oftentimes I find myself painting in everyday tasks... Like sweeping the floors, wiping my mirrors & walking’, the artist shares.
Tiarna describes their work as deeply personal and an intrinsic part of themself, though, often the artist feels separated from the work, ‘I look to my work as a way of communicating with my ancestors, what do they have to say? What can I learn from this? Do I remember this place?... Will I visit here again?’ on the other hand, Tiarna shares, ‘I see my work as an extension of myself and I believe I am an extension of my ancestors. So, in a way I am most proud of the trust I give myself.’
Working in this type of intuitive, non-conceptual way, the creative doesn’t often understand the meaning of their work until after completion. When painting, Herczeg will look to their emotions and environment for inspiration.
Often, Tiarna feels there is no other place to look for inspiration rather than within, as they were always taught that they belong to the land rather than the land belonging to them. Allowing the interconnectedness and harmony of the land to flow through them as they create, Herczeg’s work often whispers to aerial views of maps of Country.
‘My proudest career moment would be my solo at HAKE. I managed to push so much energy into JUWA I wasn't sure I had. In the morning before installation, I painted 13 of the 32 works showing,’ says Tiarna Herczeg. Photo: Courtesy of HAKE House of Art
“For a while I’ve described my practice as a ritual because I’ve always felt a calling to paint and when I do, I feel something else takes hold of me and I’m allowing ancestral knowledge to flow through onto the material.”
Photo: Courtesy of HAKE House of Art
Maku-Nyajil/Meet on Trail by Tiarna Herczeg. Photo: Courtesy of HAKE House of Art
As an emerging artist, Tiarna shares that at times paving the path of a career artist can be overwhelming, but this is met with a beautiful feeling of happiness and satisfaction which comes with selling their work.
Although Tiarna describes themself as a deeply outgoing, people person, for the artist, ‘My biggest motivation is the communities I'm a part of. It’s my mob, the creative community and LGBTIQ+ communities that hold me tight and motivate me.’
Their recent solo exhibition, JUWA, held at HAKE House of Art, showcases a vivid thirty-two works. ‘JUWA really came about upon reflection of my own personal growth over the last few years. I really wanted to showcase how my own connection to country has been healing for me and retrospectively how healing has helped deepen my connection to Country too. So, the body of work explores this. It highlights both the Jalun (waters) & bubu (land) using tropical, wet & warm colours that map out Kuku Yalanji Country.’
Tiarna’s solo exhibition, JUWA will be showing at HAKE House of Art until July 2nd. Having kicked it off with a bang at HAKE, you will be able to find Tiarna’s work in Naarm from July 2nd in an all-mob exhibition, ‘Into the Everywhen’ curated by Alchemy Orange and hosted by Craft Victoria. The artist will also be exhibiting another solo body of work with Koskela in September.