Saren Dobkins
Originally from Zambia
Lives & works in Tewantin, QLD, Australia
During her painting career which spans nearly 30 years, Saren has been committed to exploring an oeuvre that explores human dilemmas, interactions and desires. She has traveled extensively all her life, having lived in Zambia, Scotland, Israel and Australia which has given her an open, curious and empathetic perspective that is reflected in her work. As a mother, this has provided her with a tenacity and patience to pursue her passion as well as create meaningful, tender and powerful imagery that evokes the bonds and tensions of this and other close relationships. Saren has pursued many different avenues of study, from the Arts to Design, Multimedia, Social Studies and Permaculture. These varying avenues of thought and literature have fed into her content, lending her work a highly contemporary and intellectual framework into which she weaves a personal commentary. Her work can be interpreted from a narrative perspective that is expressive and philosophical.
Of late, her direction has evolved towards exploring the transformational effects of practicing mindfulness. This has opened many new avenues of research and practical application to guide her towards a life that can be lived more fully and in doing so, add a deeper and more meaningful layer to the work.
A contemporary Australian painter, her work also suggests that she was influenced by the myriad of visual inputs and experiences that she was exposed to as a child. The evocative power of a bold use of colour, strong dramatic forms, a sculptural weight to objects and the representation of the figure to express the “story” are some examples.