ERIN NELSON

Truth of Consequences

Region: Pilbara
Medium: Acrylic on paper
Size: 42cm (h) x 30cm (w)
Price: $550

Artwork Description:

This artwork captures a powerful moment of destruction, focusing on a car consumed by fire amidst an iconic South Hedland landmark – which happened in real life.The real event was posted on a facebook community forum Everything Hedland where people speculated in the comments as to the catalyst of the fire – was it a premeditated insurance job or was it stolen and torched by thieves.
This piece poses the question: Is this a moment of spontaneous disaster, or a symbol of something more systemic, more inevitable? There’s something unsettling in this contrast. It speaks to the fragility of modern life, where destruction often exists in our everyday lives but the world past our human minds does not stop for it. Nature still encroaches, the patches of green grass growing through the scorched earth and the bright blue skies shine behind the burning metal body of the car suggesting resilience, as if life finds a way to endure in the harshest of conditions even amidst devastation.

PEOPLE'S CHOICE

ARTIST BIO

Erin Nelson is a New Zealand-born emerging artist now based in Port Hedland, Western Australia.

Her diverse career path, including roles in radio, hospitality, and music touring, combined with her unconventional family background has deeply shaped Erin’s empathetic and personal approach to both life and art.

Erin’s artistic practice spans acrylic painting, pen illustration, and photography. Her work often focuses on the essence of human and environmental subjects – faces, bodies, birds, and buildings – each piece characterized by vibrant colours and emotive line work. Drawing inspiration from both the mundane and the messy, Erin’s creations serve as a bridge between her internal human experiences and the external environment. She blends bright, cartoon-like colour blocking with textured applications, creating a visual narrative that reflects her personal view of the world – one of vibrancy, romanticism, and reflection.

Since moving to Port Hedland, Erin was struck by its supportive and close-knit community, and has become deeply interested in the town’s history. Life in Port Hedland has allowed Erin the time and space to explore her creativity further, particularly as she contemplates transitioning from hobbyist to professional artist. Recently participating in the Radius exhibition, Erin’s works tend to explore the local history, architecture, and people in her environment, capturing the often-overlooked beauty
and stories in everyday life.