Nadia Hernández’s multi-disciplinary practice reflects a process of bearing witness to the loss of home and the symbolic power of memory and memorialisation. Informed by her experience as a Venezuelan woman living in Australia, and positioning herself both within and outside the Venezuelan diaspora, Hernández makes art as a means to connect with a sense of place that exists beyond psychic and geographic boundaries. She negotiates complex narratives, weaving the personal and the political, to create a highly recognisable visual language expressed through colourful textiles, paper constructions, paintings, music, installations, sculptures, and murals. Her works weave together the complexities of memory, despair, hope and reconciliation, reminding us that these opposing sensations often co-exist.
Hernández was the winner of the 2021 Grace Cossington Smith Art Award, and the winner of the 2019 Churchie National Emerging Art Prize, one of Australia’s leading prizes for emerging artists. She was a finalist in the inaugural Ellen José Art Award (2022), Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize (2021), Wangaratta Contemporary Textile Award (2021, 2019), Create NSW Visual Arts Emerging Fellowship (2020), John Fries Award (2019), and Fisher Ghost Art Award (2021, 2017). Hernández was commissioned to develop an immersive educational program and exhibition as Shepparton Art Museum’s EduLAB artist (2020), and was a recipient of the Bundanon Trust Artist in Residence (2019). Recent public art commissions include an artwork projection on William Jolly Bridge for Fiesta Latina, commissioned by Brisbane City Council (2019); a large-scale mural for Brisbane Canvas commissioned by Brisbane City Council (2019); and Wonder, commissioned by the City of Sydney for their official New Year’s Eve celebrations (2017).
Protegida, nos llaman (tiernos, raspados, semi-licuados) / Protected, they call us (tender, scraped, semi-blended)
2021
oil, flashe, acrylic, felt, cotton, and ribbon on linen
2 parts, total: 215.0 x 150.0 cm approx
De mantequilla a temperatura ambiente / Of butter at room temperature
2021
oil and acrylic on cotton
215.0 x 100.0 cm approx
Dulce de lechoza verde (procedimiento) / Green papaya sweet (procedure)
2021
cotton, linen, and corduroy on linen textile
145.0 x 100.0 cm approx
Reposar / Rest
2021
oil, flashe, acrylic, cotton, and ribbon on linen
120.0 x 40.0 cm approx
Revolver / Stir
2021
oil, flashe, acrylic, cotton, and ribbon on linen
120.0 x 40.0 cm approx
De agua de azahar y mantequilla a temperatura ambiente / Of orange blossom water and butter at room temperature
2021
paper cut
71.0 x 90.0 cm, framed
Porque con la punta de los dedos se hacen cosas delicadas / Because with the tip of your fingers delicate things are made
2021
paper cut
71.0 x 90.0 cm, framed
Entre todo hay cosas que no quiero ver / Among everything there are things that I don’t want to see
2021
paper cut
71.0 x 90.0 cm, framed
Sol de mediodía (para el dulce) / Noon sun (for the sweet)
2021
oil on linen
102.0 x 84.0 cm
Pesadilla #1 / Nightmare #1
2021
oil on linen
102.0 x 84.0 cm
De frailejones y helechos / Of espeletia and ferns
2021
oil on linen
102.0 x 84.0 cm
Con la punta de los dedos / With the tips of your fingers
2021
oil on linen
102.0 x 84.0 cm
Otros triunfos / Other triumphs
2021
oil on linen
61.0 x 46.0 cm
Varios ingredientes / Various ingredients
2021
oil on linen
61.0 x 46.0 cm
Pesadilla #2 / Nightmare #2
2021
oil on linen
46.0 x 61.0 cm
Con la punta de los dedos (With the tips of your fingers)
2021
installation view
Con la punta de los dedos (With the tips of your fingers)
2021
installation view
Con la punta de los dedos (With the tips of your fingers)
2021
installation view
Con la punta de los dedos (With the tips of your fingers)
2021
installation view
Con la punta de los dedos (With the tips of your fingers)
2021
installation view
Como el sol y toda su energía (Like the sun and all its energy)
2020
wool, cotton, linen, oil stick, acrylic, flashe, ribbon, grommets and rope
dimensions variable
Miffy and Friends
2021
installation view
Miffy and Friends
2021
installation view
NSW Visual Art Emerging Fellowship
2020
installation view
Entre Todo, Todxs
2020
installation view
Entre Todo, Todxs
2020
installation view
Entre Todo, Todxs
2020
installation view
Sangrante Imataca
2019
installation view
UNSW Galleries, Sydney
Este Es Mi Ejército
2018
installation view
Este Es Mi Ejército
2018
installation view
La dueña des las recetas, sopa de costillas de res, famoso jugo de parcha (The owner of the recipes, beef rib soup, famous passionfruit juice)
2020
oil on linen
137.5 x 102.0 cm
Todo le quedaba tan divino y espectacular (Everything was so divine and spectacular)
2020
oil on linen
137.5 x 102.0 cm
En pleno vuelo #2
2020
oil on linen
61.0 x 66.0 cm
Pinta... cacao, chocolate, Chocolate el perrito, el asado negro, los gusanos colgando cuando caminamos, las matas y la parrilla y la hamaca
2022
oil on linen
198.0 x 137.0
Pinta flores, pinta aguacates, pinta un bodegón lleno de cosas que te gustan, pinta algo que hayas cocinado con tu madre, pinta..
2022
oil on linen
198.0 x 137.0
Gansos y pollos
2022
oil on linen
198.0 x 137.0
Entre otras cosas... es verdad que Rocky se comió un ganso
2022
oil on linen
198.0 x 137.0 cm
Con la punta de los... peleando con las moscas
2022
oil on linen
102.0 x 84.0 cm
Flor, el collar de Ana y una tradición
2022
oil on linen
102.0 x 84.0 cm
Restaurante francés
2022
oil on linen
102.0 x 84.0 cm
La memoria de tu abuela, escúchala otra vez y encontrarás el nombre de la pintura
2022
oil on linen
61.0 x 66.0
De pan duro, de oro puro / Of stale bread, of pure gold
2021
paper cut
71.0 x 90.0 cm, framed
No pude recordar la casa, pero pude recordar mis sueños / I couldn't remember the house, but I could remember my dreams
2021
paper cut
71.0 x 90.0 cm, framed
Sin medida / Without measure
2021
paper cut
71.0 x 90.0 cm, framed
Retorno de la golondrina viajera / Return of the traveling swallow
2021
oil on linen
102.0 x 84.0 cm
De un reposo / Of a rest
2021
oil on linen
46.0 x 61.0 cm
Con la punta de los dedos (With the tips of your fingers)
2021
installation view
Con la punta de los dedos (With the tips of your fingers)
2021
installation view
Con la punta de los dedos (With the tips of your fingers)
2021
installation view
Con la punta de los dedos (With the tips of your fingers)
2021
installation view