Sunshine Coast Hinterland Times

A passion for ancient cultures is the source of inspiration for talented Blackall Range artist and sculptor, Kim Schoenberger.
Feature artist at Enigmas Fine Art and Craft Gallery in Mapleton during March, Kim is displaying a collection of her work based on the Phoenicians, regarded as the greatest seafarers of ancient times.
Titled “Forgotten People: Shadows of the Past”, the display comprises monoprints of ink, collage and gouache.
“By using that combination of media, I can emulate a sense of time and age of old,” Kim says.
“What I aimed to achieve with these monoprints is a collective of work that holds the essence of these elusive people who inhabited Bablos some 1500 years ago.”
Kim says the Phoenician culture is steeped in legend. There are tales of a thousand years of daring sea voyages and of their success as merchants, manufactures and traders.
Her fascination with the ancients also carries through into her pottery and sculpture.
“I recreate ancient artifacts and medieval pottery for the Abbey Museum and for their medieval tournaments.
“My totemic pieces I incorporate into landscape designs with Sunshine Coast-based landscape company, Enviro-scapes,” Kim says.
“I’m instinctively drawn to ancient times where there are carvings and symbols to be found, and anything that shows signs of ageing and deterioration. I seek to mimic those effects.”
Kim’s Phoenician-inspired monoprints are on display during March at the Enigmas Gallery, in The Old School House, 17 Obi Obi Road, Mapleton. The gallery showcases work by nearly 30 local artists and craftspeople and is open every day from 9.30am to 4pm.