Sandra Cavanagh won the Oil Award in Jackson’s Art Prize this year with her work Death of Hector II. In this interview, she discusses finding form in current events, feeling bereft when not working, and the fast dab of an unexpected decision. Above image: Sandra’s painting studio Josephine: Could you tell us about your artistic background? Sandra: I grew up in Argentina, within a deeply patriarchal and conservative culture, where democracy was imperilled by coups d’état, terrorism, and military rule. I witnessed the uncertainties of life in a police state where unchecked uniformed authority inevitably causes a breakdown of trust in the institutions of government. Early on, I cultivated an interest in a courageous, opinionated art, and to date, social injustice, violence, and gender inequality continue to drive the narratives developed in my work. Most recently, I’ve focused on the use of myth to comment on sociopolitical issues. The work evokes ancient and current power structures and the stresses these cause. I’m interested in the enduring nature of cross-generational stories in popular media and their use to contextualise public and private elements of our lives through the ages. I read Social Sciences at the University of Belgrano in …
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