Nurture/Nature presents a deeply personal exploration of family, identity, and belonging through the lens of a blended Korean-Australian family of local artists. The exhibition delves into themes of adoption, loss, care, cultural identity, and lived experience, offering insight into the complexities of family life within a multicultural society.
Over fifty works are featured, including childhood drawings and paintings by the daughter, sculptures by the father crafted from Sydney sandstone and native flora, and paper pulp sculptures by the mother created using recycled materials. Inspired by their 37 years of life in the Blue Mountains, each artwork is imbued with personal and familial narratives shaped by their natural and cultural environment.
The exhibition raises profound questions: How do nature and nurture intersect in a family shaped by cross-cultural adoption? What defines ‘nature’, and who, ultimately, nurtures whom? Through the creative practices of Jane and Tony, and the childhood artworks of Seon Ae, Nurture/Nature offers a moving reflection on the interplay of personal history, identity, and the bonds that sustain us.
Artists
Jane Lennon (b. 1952) is a sculptor based in the Blue Mountains, NSW. She is known for creating vibrant, biomorphic forms from pulped waste office paper, using a sustainable, plant-based practice that blends intuitive processes with social and environmental commentary.
Tony Lennon (b. 1952) is an Australian artist known for his unique sculptural practice that breathes new life into stone. Through his work, Tony carves sandstone into sculptural forms that serve as hosts for cultivating Australian rock orchids.
Seon Ae Lee (b. 1987) is a naturally gifted artist and human rights advocate, committed to veganism and involved in activism for planetary survival that transcends cultural boundaries.
Exhibition Information
Nurture/Nature
13 June – 18 July 2025
Korean Cultural Centre Australia
Public Program
– Opening Night & Artist Talk
Friday 13 June
Korean Cultural Centre Australia
– Artist Demonstration (TBC)