Mother-and-son duo unveil Iceland-inspired exhibition at FOUR EIGHT FOUR Gallery

A shared journey across the wild landscapes of Iceland has inspired a new exhibition by Melbourne artist Sarah Faulkner and her son Jordan O’Connor, opening at FOUR EIGHT FOUR Gallery in Carlton North this May.

The show, running for just six days from May 22 to 31, features a vibrant blend of Sarah’s emotive, expressionist paintings and Jordan’s meticulous fine line drawings.

“I’ve been painting and showing since I was 21," Sarah said, a founding member of Melbourne’s iconic Roar Studios.

“I’ve always used big brush strokes and colour, expressing myself in that way.”

In contrast, her 25-year-old son Jordan works in black and white, his process marked by a quiet, almost meditative concentration.

“He uses a 00.5 fine line pen to build up his detailed black and white drawings over hours and hours,” she said.

Their trip to Iceland – a long-held dream sparked by an exhibition they saw in 2020 – became the creative catalyst for the works.

“We saw this show and we were just blown over by the force of nature in it,” Sarah told Inner City News.

“I think that’s probably the first time we thought, ‘wouldn’t that be amazing going there?'"

Reflecting on the trip, Sarah recalled the breathtaking scenery and intense conditions of Iceland.

“The weather was so wild that we didn’t do much painting there,” she said.

“But I tried to get an intuitive sense of place when we got back to evoke the feeling of being there – the ruggedness, the windiness, the snow, the black lava.”

For Jordan, one highlight was completing the 55km Landmannalaugar trek solo in two days, forced by incoming bad weather.

“I waited for him at the end of the trail because the conditions were so bad. The next day, the wind blew the number plates off the car,” Sarah said.

Sarah was drawn to the intimate setting of FOUR EIGHT FOUR, a cosy, artist-run gallery located on the ground floor of a house, for its welcoming atmosphere and sense of community.

“There’s no right or wrong way to show work, just make the most of each opportunity.”

The exhibition runs from May 22 to 31, Thursdays to Saturdays, 11am to 5pm. •