WORKS of art exploring how the physical environment shapes experiences and identities, and how identity connects to language and place are on display at the Midland Junction Arts Centre.

Silvana Ferrario’s exhibition A Sense of Place is displayed in the east gallery while Land ((Word)) Journey is exhibited in the west gallery, featuring works by Tineke Van der Eecken, Natalie Damjanovich-Napoleon, Sharyn Egan, Carol Igglesden and Lakshmi Kanchi.

Ferrario worked with glass and highlighted the way individual experiences and identities were shaped by the physical environment.

She started working with the medium in the late 1990s when she left her career as a subsea engineer and scuba diver.

“I find great joy in my glass practice,” Ferrario said.

“I lose myself when designing and assembling the glass into the kiln.”

Ferrario used her personal experiences and environment to create sculptural 2D and 3D objects.

The personal places and experiences are reflected through the exhibition’s themes which include experiences with the ocean, memories of Italy and also elements of her home, the Perth Hills.

“The tranquillity of the hills provides such a rich environment to nourish my soul and my art,” she said.

“There’s something deeply inspiring about living surrounded by such natural beauty.

“It’s almost like the landscape becomes a partner in the creative process.”

Ferrario experimented with texture, transparency, opacity, reflection and light transmission to form her glassy creations.

Works at the west gallery explored each artists’ place of birth, family histories and the commonalities shared between them through their experiences with the land and the language of poetry.

The concepts of place and identity are highlighted as Van der Eecken, Kanchi and Damjanovich-Napoleon are migrants, Egan is a member of the stolen generation, while Igglesden is a descendant of settler colonialists.

“Collectively these artists show how language and art have the power to both express belonging and create barriers to it,” MJAC said.

“Through word as poetry and text as art they deftly and sensitively help us to connect to each other and our own narratives, as we navigate cultural identities and our sense of place.”

Both exhibitions are available for viewing until July 13.

An artist talk and poetry reading complimenting the exhibition will be held on Saturday, June 28.

For more information and booking details, visit the MJAC website.