María Peña

“NOW I FEEL THAT I BELONG TO TWO LANDS - COLOMBIA AND AUSTRALIA. THEY EMBRACE MY HEART AND MAKE ME THE PERSON WHO I AM NOW, AND THE ART THAT I CREATE”

MARÍA PEÑA

Country of origin:  Colombia.

Occupation: Visual artist, Art teacher and Spanish teacher. State of residency: VIC. Favourite place in Australia: Queensland/Great Keppel. But also loves Melbourne. Upon arrival: Surprised by the incredible mixtures of skin colours, language, food and culture. This has in fact shaped my artwork, the images that I create and the concepts and messages I want to evoke.

Edited by Zoe Gleeson.

María Peña is a Colombian visual artist currently based in Melbourne. She studied a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in painting and ceramics at the Art School ‘Academia Superior de Artes de Bogotá’ and a Doctorate of Fine Arts at RMIT University in Melbourne. Her career has developed between Australia and Colombia through solo and collective shows, artist in residency programs and specific projects. Up to now she has participated in solo and collective shows in Colombia, Australia, Mexico, China, Italy, India, Argentina, New York and the United Arab Emirates. Her main practice is oil painting and mural art projects, and she runs oil painting classes out of her Brunswick West workshop. Peña’s work overlaps images of past and present, offering traces to remember and imagine a new re-constructed home and identity. Themes of memory, absence, presence, sense of longing and myth have triggered Maria Peña´s pictorial world and art concepts. Her art has a strong influence from sub-realism ideas and referents from visual and cultural theory. 

TELL US YOUR STORY

Abu Dhabi Art Hub

I was granted a small credit scholarship by the ICETEX (Colombian Institute for Studies Overseas / Instituto Colombiano de Estudios en el Exterior). I first wanted to travel to Greece, as I had been studying Greek mythology in Bogota. But instead the ICETEX told me about Australia, and my first thought was “It’s soooo far”, will I be able to resist and survive by myself? I started investigating about Australia and especially Australian Art. I discovered Aboriginal art and culture and it was this which attracted me to accept this offer. Things work out really well with the application and spontaneously, 6 months later I had already applied for a place at RMIT and was accepted for the course “Doctorate of Fine Arts”. I arrived in Australia in a homestay with a very religious family, which I didn’t feel comfortable, but they were very friendly.

After navigating many obstacles in the university - I struggled very much with my English - I graduated in 2007, with a Distinction in a postgraduate course in visual Arts in Australia; and with amazing classmates and friends. I also completed a Graduate Diploma of Education in 2008, and with the 2 courses I was able to apply for the Australian Permanent Residency. 

The graduate Diploma of Education has allowed me to teach Spanish at University level, and this has been my back up income. However, my passion and strong interest and focus is Art. And I haven’t stopped doing it. Since I arrived in Australia I have been continuously painting, applying to exhibit and slowly have been able to sell my work. My art has been shaped from the experience of being in a multicultural country, but also by my experience as an immigrant artist. Now I feel that I belong to two lands - Colombia and Australia. They embrace my heart, they make the person who I am now, and the art that I create. 

Paradoxically, these last 2 years I have been doing mural paintings and I am loving this challenge. I have had some commissions and been very productive with a new series of works that I have entitled “Nature-ing” - intricate portraits blended with nature. I intend to give a message of reconciliation with land, feeling one with nature and realizing that our inside contains all of the elements of earth, her nature is inside of us, the ocean is inside of us, the cosmos, planets, stars and constellations are inside of us. Therefore “We are Earth” / “Somos Tierra”.

CHALLENGES

‘Murals for life’

English skills - I did not have the chance to arrive in Australia and study English first. I had to confront many challenges immediately, because I had to give presentations in the art school, speak about my work and present publicly my research proposal, plus write 10,000 words in order to graduate. At the beginning I felt all of these steps were unreachable, and experienced anxiety, but fortunately I was able to understand why and cope with it: It is about controlling the mind, and letting the heart speak and do. I said to myself “you are good, you are able, you will make it happen, ask for help”. And that is how I finished my course and learnt English and jump to the next step.

‘Roots for Seduction’

Accommodation - The first year I moved 5 times, and it was very exhausting. Sharing with other people is a big challenge. You need to grow in patience, compassion and control your mind and emotions. What I did was to focus on my achievements, I spent most of the time at University or work, and my room was harmonic and peaceful, and that could quieten my inside. When I finally finished studying and my sister had moved to Melbourne also, we decided to rent a place together.

Family and relationships - This experience could be a lonely journey. At the beginning you miss family, friends, and food. I was getting exhausted of having to express feelings and emotions in English, but this is also how I met a lot of people from different nationalities and as a result I have gotten to know many things about the world and about different cultures and languages. This has enriched my personality and the way I communicate. However, sometimes it has been difficult to establish strong relationships with continuity. I have also noticed that it takes time to make Australian friends - or other nationalities. It is also beautiful to create your own group of Latin American friends. They become your family here. I have been lucky because I have my sister and now my partner, and our cat, and this makes my life more beautiful and familiar.

CONTRASTS 

Making friends – In Colombia making friend is easy and you have your family whereas, in Australia, it is hard to make friends and your family is far.

Salary – It is hard to make a living and salaries are very low in Colombia. On contrary, in Australia, it is easier to find a job, to get a good pay, to make a living.

Loneliness – In Colombia I was always surrounded by friends, and family, had little privacy but a lot of love. Migrating to Australia can be a lonely journey, but you also have more time and focus to achieve what you want and learn to be by yourself and enjoy it as well.

PIECE OF ADVICE

Accept challenges - do not create any expectations, but say “yes” and do trust the universe and yourself that once you are here it is because it was meant to be and that all of the elements you need to achieve what you want are inside of your strong mind and big heart. 

Everything is possible - Do not blindly believe when some other person says it is not possible to find a job different from cleaning. Try your own things and do not stay with other people’s versions. Everyone is different, has different goals and especially different journeys. Your journey and your way must be unique; therefore you can-not rely on the journey of others. So, get a job in your field, find a new place, and find friends and support.

Work hard - Concentrate in your passion, work hard on your dreams and touch doors. English shouldn’t be an impediment. Persistency and dedication open doors. I have realised that in Australia you have to be persistent, so insist with kindness and respect and you will be heard and given opportunities. In Australia, they are very open to new ideas and contributions.

Don’t give up - Do not give up. You have to overcome the difficulties and you are not alone to do this. Nowadays there are many supporting groups in Spanish (e.g. Mental health groups, Latin American Networking for jobs, for living, for improving your English). Our community is growing.

‘Equilibrium’

IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS…

Maria wants to have her own Art Gallery/studio/Art School in Australia and in Colombia as well. She also will be living a sustainable life, Ecovillage living - step by step, every time more independent from the system, connected to nature to get the inspiration, knowledge and healing she needs to create and to give her message to the world. She sees herself painting murals everywhere she goes and making a living from these projects. She also want to teach Art wherever she goes, inspiring people to create and to explore and to identify with nature.