Bendigo artist explores identity and hope

The exhibition is a collection of old and new works, with special emphasis on paintings from his Identity is Plural and Bloom_Continues collections.

Through Identity is Plural, Mr Mammen explores the complexity of identity and its changing nature.

The collection is based on the idea that everyone carries a shadow of the other inside— the feminine within the masculine, and the masculine within the feminine — which coexist and make people whole.

The series is a work in progress which Mr Mammen hopes to continue expanding into a larger collection of about 20 paintings or more.

His Bloom_Continues series, featuring a collection of expressive, textured floral studies, reflects his belief that beauty and hope endures even through the ups and downs of life.

The works began during a tough time in his life, living in an old, dry and dusty Queensland home where the glass was foggy, distorting everything outside.

By looking through the windows, Mr Mammen said he learnt to appreciate the beauty of life even when things were unclear or blurred.

Mr Mammen encourages everyone to pursue things they enjoy as a way to help them through difficult times.

“Challenges are never expected but if you be positive and find something like art, it is easier to overcome the challenges,” he said.

“I encourage people to go for it, something out of your comfort zone or something which you'd like to pursue much further.”

The exhibition will be on display at the Foundry Arts Space until Sunday, March 1.