Ri Van Veen with some of her ceramic sculptures. 71562 Picture: NICOLE SULTANA
By Vanessa Chircop
RI Van Veen is passionate about women’s rights, so much so that most of her artwork is themed around it.
Ri’s ceramic artworks are all one of a kind but all have one thing in common – they’re mostly of the female form.
“Much of my work has a theme around women’s rights and issues,” she said.
“Paying homage to women,” she said.
It’s safe to say this artist has lived a pretty diverse life.
As a child Ri grew up in Frankston but moved to central Victoria with her parents at 16, there studied for the HSC under gaslight, married a local had three children and set up a farm.
Several years later she found herself living in Bendigo where she was struck down with a virus and chronic fatigue syndrome forcing her to quit her job as a welfare teacher.
Ri said her love affair with ceramics started as therapy for her illness.
“It soon became my life,” she said.
Six years ago she moved to Williamstown – a town she had previously never heard of.
“I found it (the move) really easy,” she said.
“Williamstown still has a small community feel about it – the people are very friendly.”
Ri said her passion for women’s rights stems from her work in welfare with a domestic violence agency.
Ri said some of her work with comment on the women’s rights movement, others will question it and other pieces simply celebrate women.
The Williamstown artist’s work is featuring in an upcoming exhibition at the Arthouse Ink Gallery in Yarraville.
The exhibition, Imagine, features artists from across the West and runs until 30 October.
For more information visit www.arthouseink.com.au.
