Brenda Runnegar

New Work

Mandrakes and Miracles

The Mandrake paintings are from a recently commenced series called Wicked Plants and are inspired from the plant Mandragora Officinarum commonly known as the ‘Mandrake’. It is best known for its long and forked-pointed root which often resembles the human form. Belonging to the deadly nightshade family it is full of alkaloids and like its cousins, creates an interesting soporific magic over its victims. There are many stories and superstitions associated with the mandrake root. Members of ancient civilizations thought that the bifurcated hairy root looked like a devilish little person, sometimes male and sometimes female. The Romans believed the mandrake could cure demonic possession and it has also been widely believed that the mandrake shrieked when it was pulled from the ground – so loudly that its screams would kill anyone who heard it.

My aim with the works is to depict not only the ‘jester-like’ characters but also the sinister aspect that I associate with the plant and to incite curiosity and fascination within the viewer.

Mandrake - deadly innocence!!
(2011)
oil on canvas
91.5 x 46cm

Mandrake -give me your mind!!
(2011)
oil on canvas
91.5 x 46cm

Mandrake - touch me and I'll scream!!
(2011)
oil on canvas
91.5 x 46cm

Mandrake - hallucinations!!
(2011)
oil on canvas
91.5 x 46cm

Outback Australia

Mungo Woman is a series of paintings inspired by the Lake Mungo area in far western NSW. A prior residency at The Art Vault facilitated the work by giving me the opportunity to spend extended time in the area and to engage with the landscape during the heat of summer in January 2010. I was drawn to include stories associated with the Mungo woman who lived there 40,000 years ago and is believed to be the world’s oldest known cremation. Mungo man was discovered in 1974 and his body was covered with red ochre in the earliest known example of a sophisticated and artistic burial practice. Other ancient cremations are now known.

These bodies in the landscape have evolved into works that juxtapose the dry desert areas, the remains of our most ancient ancestors and the flora which exists there today. Identification with the area has led me to an ongoing exploration of its forms and symbolism and has enabled me to capture linkages to mystery and spirituality in my strive to paint something beyond the visible subject itself.

Eremophila child
(2011)
oil on canvas
76 x 76cm

Botanical woman
(2011)
oil on canvas
76 x 76cm

New growth
(2011)
oil on canvas
76 x 76cm

Tomb
(2011)
oil on canvas
46 x 91.5cm

Woman of Fossils
(2011)
oil on canvas (diptyche)
76 x 155cm

Domestica

The series titled Domestica are to be exhibited at Stefanos’ Gallery 25 in Mildura from 9-27 June 2011. My aim with the work is to reactivate traditional themes and to personalise and modernize this inherited iconography and intensify its expressive content.