In a world where negative headlines dominate the media, one Yarra Ranges artist finds comfort in the cracks and carvings of fallen tree trunks.
For the month of September, a new exhibition at the Warburton Waterwheel has opened which showcases the whimsical wooden works of wood sculptor Shlomit Moria.
Through a host of various sculptures, Tales the Trees Told Me showcases the beauty of nature and the subsequent joy one can find within it.
Ms Moria said her work is an act of rebellion against the pervasive negativity we consume on the internet.
“You always have such horrible headlines, everything is divided, everybody’s hating each other, everything is really black and white,” Ms Moria said.
“This is a reminder that our world is actually beautiful. We have amazing nature, especially here in Victoria, in the Yarra Valley.
“[It’s] about creating happy stories [and] creating something good.”
After moving to Warburton 19 years ago, Ms Moria was inspired by the natural beauty of the Yarra Ranges.
It prompted a career change from graphic design to wood sculpting where she now takes on commissions from bigger businesses.
There’s a noticeable sense of joy permeating throughout her signature large-scale sculptures – one piece called Freedom depicted a small person riding on the back of an animal, arms outstretched and hair blowing in the wind.
Ms Moria said Freedom was inspired by a memory while travelling in India, where she was riding a Vespa scooter.
“I was driving down this mountain and at the time I had no helmet… I felt this freedom, and people on the side of the road were waving, it was just the best.”
Another sculpture, titled Gazers, depicts six figurines standing side by side, gazing upwards – it demonstrated Ms Moria’s tendency to interweave simple yet effective social commentary through her art.
She said it portrayed our tendency to follow the herd instead of choosing our own path.
Ms Moria described her process of making sculptures which usually starts with a large bit of wood she either finds herself, or receives from friends.
First, she begins by sketching a design before then using a chainsaw to get a rough shape of her final product.
Using a variety of power tools, she then sands the wood to get a smooth finish.
“I design them first, I sketch everything and then I transfer it into the wood,” she said.
Alongside her signature large-scale sculptures, she introduces delicate, small-scale carvings inspired by the community whittling workshops she has led across Victoria.
“Usually when I do big things… it’s very one-dimensional… Now I could just expand it by creating a lot more different things. Because you can have more than just one element.”
While the time to complete her work can vary from piece to piece, she said it normally takes around two weeks to finish a sculpture.
In an age where our worldviews are shaped by the internet and not the physical space around us, Tales the Trees Told Me acts as a poignant reminder to slow down, get outside and touch some grass.
“You can go out of the house, breathe the freshest air and see the beautiful mountains, and everything is all right.
“Go out there, be in nature, enjoy some adventure, have fun. There are also good stories. That’s my concept.”
Ms Moria’s exhibition at the Warburton Waterwheel has its official opening on Saturday 6 September at 1pm, and will be displayed until 30 September.
