Elemental Drift
Linton and Kay Galleries Subiaco Boorloo (Perth)
(The title Elemental Drifts is taken from a poem by Walt Whitman 1867)

Linton and Kay Gallery Subiaco 299 Railway Road
(Corner Nicolson Road) Subiaco WA 6008

Telephone =61 8 9388 3300

subicaco@lintonandkay.com.au

At its core, Elemental Drift is a celebration of the wonders of nature. In her work, Darvall paints with a deep sense of awe and reverence for the natural world, capturing its beauty in vivid detail and encouraging her viewers to appreciate it. Her sensitivity with colour and brushwork in Elements A (2024), a watercolour monoprint, personifies the earth as a living, breathing entity.

Throughout this series, Darvall suggests that there is more to the earth than meets the eye. She views it as a powerful force—capable of both immense beauty and destruction. This theme runs through the entire body of work, including her paintings, prints, and ceramics. In Elemental Drift, Darvall explores the four essential elements—air, water, fire, and earth—delving into their roles in shaping our world. See Porongurups (2024) for an example of her exploration of these forces.

Despite the fact that Elemental Drifts is informed by ideas that have been explored for over a century, Darvall takes a contemporary approach by engaging with Walt Whitman’s poetry, particularly his work Elemental Drifts. Whitman, one of America's most celebrated poets, is renowned for his free verse and his celebration of the natural world. Like Whitman, Darvall explores themes of the environment, democracy, individualism, and the interconnectedness of all things. She draws on these ideas in her artist book Mapping Refugium (after Borges), where she weaves the poetry of WA poet Yann Toussaint into the narrative. Toussaint’s work—like Whitman’s —addresses the environmental shifts, the challenges of individualism, and the complex relationship between people and nature.

Mapping Refugium (after Borges) words Yann Toussaint 2024 Artist Book J Darvall.

In Darvall’s Leaves of Grass 2025, an oil painting, she continues this exploration, paying homage to the elemental forces that shape our world. Here, like Whitman, Darvall celebrates individualism— the idea that each person has something unique to offer the world. Her recent residency in the WA Parliament is reflected in works on paper such as Mali and Derabal Yaragan (2024), which consider the historical effects of colonisation, framing it not only as a past event but as an ongoing influence shaping the future.

Maali Derbal Yerrigan 2024 (Detail) 56 x 76 cm watercolour multi print and etching on Arches BFK

Marks of Grass 2025. 11150 x 140 cm oil on canvas

Darvall’s reflection on the past resonates with Whitman’s references to Paumanok, the native name for Long Island, which acknowledges an agreement made with the First Nations people of America. In a similar way, Darvall finds resonance in the colonisation of Perth and its lasting impact on society today. This intertwining of history and nature is evident in the marks and layers of her work,

which speak another language—one that describes natural elements undermined by human actions, yet still present, visible, and alive.

Her 3 meter painting of WA politician May Holman is also intended to inspire others to work tirelessly for the people (collected by the WA Parliament 2024). Like Whitman and Toussaint, Darvall honours hard work as a noble pursuit, quietly urging viewers to take pride in their contributions, however small they may seem.

As Toussaint writes:

And it is in this landscape also that we make our marks –

We bear witness

We curate hope

We follow threads

We sow seeds

We make nests

We rescue flotsam rafts

We write secular prayers

We do not throw stones.

Ultimately, Elemental Drifts is a powerful celebration of the natural world and the elements that shape our lives. Darvall’s sensitive blending of colours and her harmonious application of paint invite her viewers to embrace a sense of wonder and excitement, urging them to appreciate the beauty of the world around us. Darvall sees herself as a herald, paving the way for future generations to celebrate both the natural world and the hardworking people who sustain it.

This exhibition, composed of works on paper, artist books, and poetry, is a timely and inspiring reminder to take pride in our individuality and to honour the wonders of nature that surround us.