Dear Editor
This weekend I attended an exhibition at 'Hilltop on Tamborine'. It's a delightful Art Gallery run by Tapani and Eva Soini at 1525 Tamborine Oxenford Road. It's my first visit to this beautiful venue and I was amazed to discover the views east to the Gold Coast and north-west, looking through their beautiful and picturesque chapel towards Brisbane.
Inside their gallery home was displayed the 'Colour and Earth Exhibition' - a celebration of the beauty of the desert by some renown indigenous artists from the centre of Australia. Many believe the desert is a stark and vacant environment yet it can be shown that it literally teems with life and colour.
The three outstanding paintings to me were by Poly Ngal entitled 'Bush Plum Dreaming' - two acrylic on linen pieces which had depth and originality, beautiful use of subtle colours including greens which gave a feeling of mystery. The paintings denote the beauty of bush plums which are foods of the desert.
The third painting was by Margaret Turner Petyarre Awelye entitled 'Utopia'. This was an amazing use of monotone giving an unusual dimension that persuaded the viewer to continue gazing into it and searching for further pictures. The painting represents women's body and has a fascination hard to ignore.
It's wonderful to see indigenous art up here on our mountain, was a highlight of my weekend and well worth popping into Hilltop and having a chat with two wonderful and hospitable personalities.
Take a little time to look in. You will be warmly welcomed into Eva and Tapani's gallery and home and keep an eye out for future exhibitions at Hilltop on Tamborine.
R.Yates