
The West Australian Pulse: Jodie Rankin expresses her journey of anxiety through artwork
Edvard Munch's work has inspired many artists, but it was some words from the master painter that really spoke to Jodie Rankin.
The teenager interpreted the revered Munch's quote, 'From my rotting body, flowers shall grow, and I am in them, and that is eternity', through the lens of her anxiety disorder to create her intricately embroidered piece, Eternity, which is on show at The West Australian Pulse exhibit.
'It is my interpretation, not only of Munch's quote, but my portrayal of how my anxiety manifests and feels,' the 18-year-old said.
'In creating the piece, it was very soothing for my anxieties, and the chaoticness of it and all the different aspects of it reflect how anxiety has so many different aspects but there's good and bad parts of it, positives and negatives.'
The free West Australian Pulse exhibit is at the Art Gallery of Western Australia.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Perth Now
a day ago
- Perth Now
Young talent gives ballet culture a ‘bad wrap'
The intense demands and 'toxic culture' surrounding ballet forced Charley-Marie Travia to quit the sport she loved from age 3 to 17. The Iona Presentation College graduate turned her experience into Stored Away, a series of photorealistic oil paintings of her ballet possessions covered in plastic. One of canvases, a representation of her favourite ballet dress, features as part of this year's The West Australian Pulse exhibition at the Art Gallery of WA. The 18-year-old also created eye-catching images of her trophies and pointe shoes, all wrapped in plastic to be stored away. While she dreamt of joining one of the great European or New York ballet schools, Ms Travia left the demanding sport to focus on her high school studies. Iona Presentation College graduate Charley-Marie Travia, with her artwork Stored Away at The West Australian Pulse exhibition. Credit: Danella Bevis / The West Australian 'If you want to take it seriously, you have to leave (school) at 15 and go to a different country and start a new life,' she said, 'and then your career is done by 25, at the oldest.' Now studying architecture at Curtin University, Ms Travia said the 'ballet industry is very toxic' with potentially detrimental impacts on the mental and physical health of young dancers. 'Whatever you do, it's never good enough,' she added. 'When you're in a ballet studio, you're surrounded by mirrors, so it's very hard on your body image. 'Mentally, it's a very tough sport, as well as physically.' Charley-Marie Travia and fellow Pulse artist Ben Ioannou at the Pulse exhibition opening night. Credit: Alan Chau / The West Australian Partly inspired by American collage artist Barbara Kruger's use of slogans, Stored Away features the phrase 'I was once your favourite' emblazoned on her ballet dress. Ms Travia said the Pulse artwork closed a chapter in her life. 'I can now move on to bigger and better things,' she said. Can she see herself ever dancing again? 'No, I don't,' Ms Travia laughed. 'It's a very traumatising career — I don't think I'd ever go back.' Mentored by Iona teacher Lisa Corbett, Ms Travia enjoyed the process of painting Stored Away but said she never thought her work would end up on a wall in WA's most prestigious art gallery. 'The standard in Perth, especially for Year 12 students, is crazy,' she said. The West Australian Pulse exhibition is free and runs until August 31.


West Australian
2 days ago
- West Australian
The West Australian Pulse: Taylor O'Sullivan reflects on the duality of life and death
Taylor O'Sullivan's artwork hanging from the walls of The Art Gallery of Western Australia reminds people of the fragility of life. The piece, First Dance, encourages art lovers to reflect on the eternal nature of death. 'The meaning behind the artwork is about the duality of both life and death, and that living isn't necessarily the last part of living,' he said. 'So it explores the idea of life after death, and that the way we live right now isn't the final destination. 'Life is a bit fragile it's very, very easy to come and go, as I've had multiple friends pass away, but yeah, life is fragile, and you've got to live it to the extent, and then we'll all be living beyond life together.' The unique piece was inspired by Mr O'Sullivan's personal experience and religious influences. Set in the Garden of Eden, First Dance depicts skeletons dancing. 'The skeletons dancing is that kind of duality of not there being in the physical form, but in the secondary form of living, where it all started, but also after,' he said. The Seton Catholic College graduate used a wood-burning technique to highlight the fragility of life within a space of innocence. Mr O'Sullivan said the work is up for interpretation, but he hopes it encourages reflection. 'Be grateful for everything you have. Live life to the fullest and enjoy every moment,' he said. The free exhibition is open from May 3 until August 31 at the Art Gallery of Western Australia.


Perth Now
25-05-2025
- Perth Now
Art Gallery of WA celebrates next generation of fashion designers in The West Australian Pulse
The next generation of WA fashion designers were greeted by a sellout crowd as they showed their creations in a high-energy runway show on Saturday night. The West Australian Pulse, the Art Gallery of WA's annual celebration of talent, passion and creativity, showcased the work of fashion and design students from North Metro TAFE, South Metro TAFE, Curtin and Edith Cowan universities. This year's catwalk parade was dedicated to the memory of fashion designer and AGWA collaborator Aurelio Costarella, who died in April. The fashion show, which featured WA's top fashion graduates and emerging names, is part of AGWA's annual celebration of art created by young people. It coincides with The West Australian Pulse visual arts exhibition, chosen from the best works submitted by Year 12 graduates. With the demise of Perth Fashion Festival in 2018, Pulse has become an essential annual runway experience for student designers. Around 115 student volunteers — including designers, dressers, apprentice hairdressers, makeup artists and ushers — rolled up their sleeves and donated their time backstage to help the show run smoothly.