Mount Isa-based artist Ozlem Yeni unveiled her new exhibition at Mount Isa Regional Art Gallery on Friday July 5.
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The Turkish-born Ms Yeni, who has also designed the backdrop for the upcoming Mount Isa Blast said her exhibition was entitled Earthpeople.
Ms Yeni invited audiences to approach her paintings and clay work with an openness in a self-directed journey and her aim is to increase awareness of humankind's situation, the power of life on earth and to relate them to common goals so we can make changes to improve existence for all.
"I don't remember how long I had this idea in mind, and after three years (in Mount Isa) here we are," Ms Yeni said.
"I thank you from the bottom of my heart all my friends and dear art lovers for coming to the opening of Earthpeople, you made my day."
Ms Yeni said she was a "soldier of love" fighting for humankind and all animals and the Earth we are living in.
"This is my truth, my brushes, my clay, my colours and I want you to enjoy it as I do," she said.
"Like every artists I accept the challenge to do my best and tell my story."
Ms Yeni said the characters in her paintings did not possess any gender, age, religion, nationality or skin colour.
"They are illustrations of humankind's courses of action, the ones that make life meaningful," she said.
"They are representatives of universal moral values."
Introducing the exhibition, Mount Isa Tourism and Entertainment Venues business manager Donna Olivero said she was honoured to have the privilege.
"Ozlem is one of the beautiful people, the earthpeople. She is my friend, my colleague, and she is the incredibly talented artist of this exhibition," Ms Olivero said.
"Ozlem is a Turkish-born artist who now lives and works in Mount Isa and she studied painting completing a bachelor of fine arts at the university of Suleyman Demirel in Turkey."
Ms Olivero said that before becoming a full time artist Ozlem enjoyed an 18 year academic career as a lecturer in the theatre stage design department of the university of Dokuz Eylul in Turkey where she earned her PhD.
"Ozlem has had several solo and group exhibitions in Turkey, Japan, Australia and Albania," she said.
"Ozlem is a talented and versatile artist who taught herself claywork with the assistance of Michele Savoie and the amazing pieces you see here are the result of recent learning."
Earthpeople will be on display at the Mount Isa Regional Art Gallery at Outback at Isa until August 30.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
