The rich and raw work of Australian artist Kareena Zerefos lies in a fragile existence of fantasy and memory. Her diverse background in design and utilizing different media - pencil, gouache, tea and ink- leads to a combination of traditional and digital drawing techniques to create her immersive work.

The work lies on a natural and humble material- wood- as it quickly sets the warm tone to the narrative. The excessive strokes softens the message and creates a portal into her eyes by connecting to her fantasies and memories. Mostly creating scenes with a child present, it explores elements of isolation, fear, curiosity and imagination. The composition often shows a child connected to an animal or natural element as it ties into the rural backgrounds of Kareena's childhood growing up in the outskirts of Sydney, Australia.

The voice on the work is quiet but does not lack a vivid picture on the interaction between elements. The scenes are rich in textures and details. Her technique shows an endearing and caring process into the narratives; these are very important to set the tone of such whimsical scenes of imagination.

As her work explores memory, we understand that although we might perceive the identity of the individuals, the full detail and disclosure of them is not necessarily the most important. In her work, animals have full depiction to their entitling features but the children are often seen in a glimpse. Seeing their full facial features is unnecessary and to some degree an inappropriate solution to conveying such memories. Anonymity allows the memory and fantasy to be explored. It connects us to our own insecurities and memories of solitude and uncertainty, we all have them!

boy with rat
pencil, ink and gouache on paper
©  Kareena Zerefos, 2008

It forces us to loose control and allow our minds to take over and not our bodies. We are as weak as we allow our past to take over us or as strong as we learn from it. Although we dwell sporadically on such memories we decide if we live in them, perpetually or in brief moments of escape. These selected pieces are implemented through pencil, oils, inks and gouache on pine plywood box.  Yatzer loves her latest 2010 collection on wood and will stay tuned to other works on this series.

his name was sebastien
pencil, ink, gouache and letraset on paper
© Kareena Zerefos, 2008

carnival horses
pencil, ink and gouache on paper
© Kareena Zerefos, 2009