People of the Olive Groves by Celesteivybell in Adelaide

The piece ‘People of the Olive Groves’ is a surrealistic tribute to the historic significance of the Adelaide Parklands. The personification of the workers in the olives is used to symbolize the human experience in the natural world, and the impact of human presence on it. My work aims to immortalize its story. The use of vibrant, earthly colours and exaggerated features amplifies the sense of otherworldliness in the painting. The inclusion of a strong shadowing silhouette as a connotation to the olive groves original intended purpose, no longer remaining but forever its reason for being. In addition to the surrealist elements, the painting is also a nod to the rich cultural history of the parklands. The olive groves are a vital example of the diverse communities that have made the parklands a place of story and home, this work chooses its obscurity of its city location and history of its workers as a crucial example. Through this painting, I aim to pay homage to the historic significance of the parklands, and to spark a dialogue about the human experience and the impact of human presence on the environment. As well as challenge the perception of the lingering presence of the people of the olive grove’s untold stories.