By Graham McLean | Featured in the Fall 2015 Issue – Art Of The Times
“We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love… and then we return home.” – Aboriginal Proverb
Australian earth-artist Helen Andronis Ibrahim, known as “Eleni,” has always been a creative soul. However, she never believed she could call herself an artist. For some, it takes a burst of inspiration to open doors. For Helen, it took a prophetic friend to steer her in the right direction.
It is no surprise that the subjects of Helen Ibrahim artist are spiritual and organic. Each piece tells a very enlightening story. Eventually, that same friend introduced Helen to a life-altering Aboriginal elder.
The Influence of Kunmanara Randall
As fate would have it, Helen attended a screening of the documentary Kanyini. There, she met the famed Aboriginal leader, Kunmanara Randall. Consequently, Kunmanara became her spiritual guide and close friend.
Under his guidance, Helen rediscovered her life’s purpose. She committed to spreading the word of truth through art. Her arresting portrait, I Am, captures the integrity of the elder.
Kunmanara was a member of the “Stolen Generation.” Despite a painful past, he dedicated his life to forgiveness and culture. Helen’s portrait of him remains a lasting part of his noble legacy.
From the Outback to Arizona
After completing her portrait of Kunmanara, Helen’s next project came to her by fate. She decided to travel to a Hopi reservation in Arizona. Guided by destiny, she met a woman who shared the stories of her people.
This profound experience inspired a new series. Notably, it includes Trust, a depiction of a Hopi elder in traditional headdress. Both works are imbued with a special aura.
Earth-to-Canvas Technique
The otherworldliness of her work is the result of her technique. Helen Ibrahim artist utilizes an “earth-to-canvas” approach. By incorporating feathers, sand, soil, bark, and bamboo, she creates 3D works. As a result, the art seems alive as it reaches out from the canvas.
Recently, the art world has recognized her talent. “I Am” was a finalist for the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize in 2012. Furthermore, her work appeared on a twenty-five-story building in New York’s Times Square.
Sadly, Kunmanara passed away in 2015. However, his spirit lives on in Helen’s portrait. Currently, it is on tour, spreading a shared message of hope and unconditional love.
