Inspired!

Artist Liss Finney takes yogic inspiration from Shaun Gladwell’s video work Track and Trials, which was in the MRAG Collection exhibition Unfolding Time.

Liss Finney with Shaun Gladwell’s video work Track and Trials.

I’m Liss and I’m a yogi and artist, two practices that I believe intertwine and reflect each other beautifully. Both have taught me patience and perseverance, and provide an outlet enabling me to still my mind and foster a bit of inner peace.

To me, the definition of yoga is anything that provides you with a chance to become present, whether that be connecting with your breath, being aware of your body in space, or being really committed to and aware of what you’re doing – perhaps making art.

I really connected with Shaun Gladwell’s video piece Track and Trials, 2011, in the Unfolding Time exhibition, as the work displays immense mental presence and mind-body connection through the physical feat of balance, even when the surrounding environment is constantly providing distraction. The BMXer navigates his way around a rocky shore as ocean waves wash across it, demonstrating immense focus.

For me Track and Trials brings to mind the yoga tree pose. This involves placing your weight onto one leg and gently hovering your other foot off the ground, before resting it on the ankle, calf or upper thigh of your standing leg. You then inhale, stretching your arms high above your head and extending out through your fingertips, like the branches of a tree growing toward the sun.

Balancing poses in yoga, such as this, are a great tool for creating space in your mind as they almost force you to be present and focus on what your body is doing and feeling.

Liss Finney ran Yoga in the Gallery sessions for kids and families during Free Art January, 60-minute explorations of yoga as a form of art appreciation and self-expression.

In each issue of Artel we share a member’s creative response to an artwork on display at MRAG. So, if an artwork inspires you to get creative – whether it be to write, cook, dance or sing – we’d love to hear about it! Please contact us at artelmagazine@gmail.com.