Creative Workshop

No. 29

29 Jacaranda Crescent, 6285, Margaret River, WA, Australia

Christopher Young and Elisa Markes-Young

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Elisa Markes-Young was born on New Year's Eve 1964 in Gorlice, Poland. In 1981 she moved to Germany with her family. She then moved to Western Australia with her photographer husband in early 2002 where they have exhibited on a regular basis.With her cross-cultural biography, Elisa's identity is punctuated by the question of how Polish or German she really is. It is also very much defined by the feeling of being caught between two worlds. The excitement of living in a foreign country is accompanied by an intense feeling of displacement. Being a stranger and 'different', having to master another language and the mentality of a new place creates a feeling of insignificance and inadequacy. Trying to navigate between the Polish origins, German influences and Australian surroundings, Elisa recognizes that self-reflection is crucial to her identity: It is a reflection on the variations of her 'handed-down' identity.Elisa dealt with these issues in 'What I Am' (2006) and she feels that her work is being increasingly inspired by her memories of Poland, it's landscapes and colours and pictures she associates with it.In her work Elisa uses mostly natural fibres, textiles, techniques and skills that are - at least in cultures of European origin - traditionally attributed to the female field of experience. The aim is to recreate not so much figurative works but rather the mood.Christopher Young was born in small-town New Zealand in the mid-seventies. After finishing his studies he moved to Germany in 1996 before settling in Western Australia in 2002.Isolationis a recurring theme in his life and work – the remoteness of growing up in semi-rural New Zealand, the loneliness of living in Germany as a poor German speaker and lately the geographic and ideological seclusion of life in Australia, have all coloured his artistic practice.Context, coding in images and a lack of a personal cultural library have been central themes explored in his work.He majored in Photography with a Fine Art bias and exhibits on a regular basis in Western Australia where he now lives with his artist wife. Christopher supports his practice by working in the Graphic Design and Print industries.