Amara Sinclair-Hill

School of Isolated and Distance Education

Year 12

Acrylic and oil on canvas

61 x 47.5 cm

The idea of fungal symbiosis and the root systems of forests inspired this self-portrait. We often see ourselves as entirely individual; I liked the idea of exploring the way that your environment and community also shapes you. ‘Roots’ has many connotations at the botanical and the metaphysical level. After roots comes growth, something I find extremely relevant to my adolescence and self-discovery.

I’ve grown up in a household full of bookshelves with botanical books. My father’s obsession with fungi means you’ll find native fungi remnants in his pockets or lying around on benches and in random drawers. It might not be obvious but the bottom right section was heavily influenced by mycorrhizal fungi.