Our latest exhibition "What we didn't know we'd miss during a global pandemic” by Peta Roebuck.
In this collection of works, Peta has reflected on the things we didn’t know we would miss during a global pandemic. A celebration of our ability to physically connect again in Perth, Peta aims to create a sense of playful optimism and gratitude in her works.
We have a chat with Peta about the exhibition and how the project came to life.
We’re so happy to have your artworks gracing the walls at Bivouac. Can you walk us through how this collection came about?
Thanks so much, I’m stoked to see them there!
I have spent the last few years working as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer and mural painter. During this time, I’ve had the opportunity to make gig posters and explore my love of characters, geometric patterns, textures and colour. This collection was a chance to go deeper into ideas that pop up in my head as I’m creating work for clients and make work outside of an assigned brief, work that inspires me and that I find beautiful. I spend a lot of time working on the computer creating digital artwork which is where the precision in my design comes from. I really enjoy the happy mistakes that come with the painting process (I love to paint murals whenever I get the chance) and find the results interesting when the digital and hand-made processes are combined.
When I started making this work pre-pandemic, the ideas were going in a very different direction. During the strange circumstances that came with the global pandemic, I found myself thinking about how we took for granted the ability to spend time in groups and the simple joy that this can bring us. I thought it was pretty special that this was being globally acknowledged and it seemed like an interesting theme to explore in my work.
Many of your artworks feature food. We were definitely all cooking more during iso. Did you master sourdough or banana bread? What else were you whipping up?
I am lucky enough to live with some amazing cooks and found the frequent family dinners my housemates and I were having during isolation to be one of the best silver-linings of this unique time. I was also lucky enough to work at Bivouac many years ago where my love of food deepened as I saw it bring people together.
We’d love for you to share some of your favourite pieces from the exhibition…
Nostalgic
I have very fond memories of of playing with a parachute in groups as a young kid, lifting it up and changing spots with someone on the opposite side. I remember thinking it was so big compared to my tiny self at the time! It was another chance to play with geometrics and simple layouts. I was admiring the colour palettes used by Japanese illustrator Takei Takeo when I painted this piece.
Clubb Medd
This design has evolved for different purposes. It originally was an idea for a friends music label ‘Word of Mouth’. It then became a music poster for local musician Fraeya. For this exhibition I added some dancers at the top and it reminded me of ClubbMedd, a Perth dance party that takes place at the Navy Club, where the old floor feels like it is going to fall away under the weight of many of dancing bodies.
Year of the Flood
I’d been sitting on this idea for many years. It sits outside of the theme of the rest of the exhibition as it is based on a quote from Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood- “What breaks in daybreak? Is it the night? Is it the sun, cracked in two by the horizon like an egg, spilling out light?”
Tandem Cycle
This idea was born when I was making a logo design for my friend who restores beautiful vintage bikes (@coasterz). I was inspired by old Japanese graphic design and geometric patterns. I enjoyed playing with the subtle details that could be created by adding minimal texture with pencil and gouache paint.
Now that we are moving into the new, new normal, what’s on the horizon for you?
I will be working on some illustrations for a storybook written by the Conservation Council WA, illustrating local author @k.j.writer short story ‘Rita’s Balloon Saloon’, as well as continuing my freelance design and illustration business painting murals, making animations and creating artwork for local musicians.
You can follow Peta Roebuck at @onomatopeta_ or see what she’s up to on her website. All original pieces have sold out but you can purchase limited prints from Bivouac.