Luminous Laguna Dyranna | Kristjana S Williams

Luminous Laguna Dyranna, a beautiful limited edition print on paper by artist Kristjana S Williams. Part of the Venice Collection.

The story behind the artwork:Capturing a post-anthrocene world of the imagination, the artwork in the Venice Collection imbues a Dali-esque contemplation of a life where the power of nature is enabled to take hold; colour is heightened, oxygen flows, and the animal kingdom reclaims habitats lost and gains territories discovered, those left bare by the absence of humanity. The impact the lockdowns have had on our environment has been remarkable. Absorb yourself in the paradox of a demi-Utopia, where clear, calm waters dissolve the social and environmental conundrums of society.

Kristjana's love affair with Venice began with a visit in 2010, where the incredible architecture and light found at every corner was only enhanced by the 20th Century art housed at the Peggy Guggenheim. It was 10 years later that Kristjana stumbled upon some 19th Century Venetian stereoscopic prints by photographic pioneer, Carlo Ponti.

Magnificent St Mark’s has been flooded with a proliferation of animalia, evolved species settling in to their new environment, humanesque, yet human free. Objects of beauty have been sequestered from the Doges Palace; an exquisite condiment set a vehicle for a tiny dog, a gold leafed bathtub commandeered by a majestic tiger, and a classical terrarium, nurturing an explosion of flora upon an otherwise grey stone plaza. Giant cats appear from upper windows to survey the scene below. But there is no hierarchy here; old adversaries work as one as a basketed feline invites in a diminutive mouse. Spot feathered Adriatic dolphins, dancing in the lagoon; their fabled presence with this floating Italian city, a symbol of the incredible power of nature over the forces of humankind.