Future Self

Charlotte Alldis + Sonia Gill

22 May - 2 June 2024

Saint Cloche couldn’t be happier to bring two mindful artists together in a ‘pas de deux’ to reveal a very intentional body of work in 'FUTURE SELF’.

Inspired by age-old techniques of caring for and repairing damaged belongings, this series is an expression of artists Charlotte Alldis and Sonia Gill’s desire to extend the life of otherwise discarded materials. Through thoughtful processes of hand dyeing and sewing, each painting tells a story of endurance and material sensitivity, preserving its memory while revealing its future self. In turn, the artists experienced the healing ripple effects their mending has imbued.

What do we want for our future selves?

After collaborating on the experimental group show 'Between Painters’ in 2022, Charlotte Alldis and Sonia Gill were inspired to continue working together, forming 'Future Self'. Their journey over the past two years has been deeply meaningful as artists, friends, and women.

They meticulously collected fabric, each piece carrying its own story: the hand-woven ruby silk found in the depths of India and the sun-kissed linen curtains that hung in Charlotte's studio.

With intention and consideration, Charlotte, and Sonia hand-dyed and curated the fabrics into new compositions, infusing them with stories and memories to create something new. They exchanged these works back and forth, accompanied by countless images, texts, calls, studio visits, trips to each other's homes and handwritten notes.

Their artistic journey of growth paralleled their personal lives, as Charlotte and Sonia experienced significant life changes including Charlotte completing her master’s studies and Sonia’s birth to her second child, Sisu. From the womb to the studio, Sisu's presence became intertwined with the project as the fabric’s transformations symbolise the profound cycles of life and renewal.

Charlotte and Sonia's collaborative method is a testament to the importance of care and intention in relationships, in the material world and with others. By choosing to delve deep with one another again and again, they found a space to bring about meaningful change in their practices and their admiration for one another….. a note to their future self.

Future Self

I am interested in the act of painting itself and how it can shape stories and dreams into a narrative. Throughout my life, art has been a place of refuge, a way to create a sense of home and engage in playful exploration. My practice reflects my experiences and imagination, drawing viewers into a vivid fantasy world. I use figurative and abstract elements to convey a sense of connection and storytelling through lively, dynamic scenes that depict playful and strong narratives.

For me, painting bridges the realm of the mind and the physical world. A way to explore concepts of psyche, identity, and relationships within the context of another world. Painting is a restorative practice where the coexistence of playfulness and grief is evident. Each piece offers a glimpse into a world filled with chaos, hope, joy, and sorrow—a window into my journey.

I am currently interested in repurposing otherwise discarded materials as a tool for reimagining futures and exploring material sensitivity within my practice. Painting is not just about expression but also a powerful tool for self-discovery and connection. By engaging with my feelings, dreams, and wounds, I hope to illuminate the interconnectedness of all things.

Through my art, I invite viewers to join me in this exploration, to discover a world full of energy and possibility.

- Charlotte Alldis

My paintings are a delicate balance between the gestured brushstrokes of intuition and elemental mark making as a visual narrative on existence. I use colour to communicate my nuanced sensibility to spirituality, and to echo the connection with my Indian heritage. The seasonal change of nature plays a role in creating my paintings, by using the elemental forces to help shape the fabric. I look to the Earth for pigment, the Sun, to age colour, Rain, to mottle dye, and Wind, to disperse mark making.

Each step in my creative process is a mirror to the potential possibilities inherent in all beings. My aim is to hold space for you, the observer, to reflect on your interconnected existence, and ignite your imagination. My hope is that we consider the transformation and evolution of our own lifecycle.

- Sonia Gill

About Charlotte Alldis

Charlotte Alldis is an early career artist practising in Wurundjeri Country, Naarm/Melbourne. She has held six solo shows and numerous group shows in the past eight years and recently curated their first large-scale project, 'Between Painters', an experimental collaborative project of practice enquiry for emerging artists.

Charlotte has collaborated on two seasons for Australian fashion label Kuwaii, co-founded a community project, 'Making A Mess', facilitated ongoing workshops for artists at the DAX Centre, and facilitated a kid’s program for the National Gallery of Victoria.

Charlotte's work is held in various private collections in Australia and internationally and has been commissioned for workshops, festivals, private collections, murals, and commercial projects. Charlotte has a mental health and psychology background and currently works as an art therapist.

About Sonia Gill

Sonia Gill is an emerging artist practicing in Wurundjeri Country, Naarm/Melbourne. Drawing from her Indian heritage, creative careers spanning fashion and textiles, and her experience through motherhood, Sonia Gill's artwork is deeply rooted in the intricate interplay between transformation, storytelling, and generational knowledge.

Central to Sonia’s process is a fascination with the lifecycle of textiles. Through precise techniques involving dyeing, sewing, and painting, she transforms fabric off cuts, giving them new lives as artworks. Through her art, she articulates the ephemerality of existence, rooted in spiritual inquiry, and tethered to the elemental rhythms of nature. Natural cloth, charcoal, and raw pigment serve as conduits; facilitating reflection upon the cyclicality of life, the intricate patterns within nature, and the transformative power inherent in natural dye processes.

Sonia has held solo, group and collaborative shows, her work lives in the homes of private collectors and she has been featured in numerous publications.