A first-time Wynne Prize finalist, Louise Zhang was inspired to record her experiences of sitting by the lotus pond in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden, located on Gadigal land. The work stems from a practice of ‘slowing down and simply being,’ Zhang explains, with the act of painting offering an opportunity for reflection and providing solace. Found at the harbour end of the gardens, the pond is a site that Zhang has enjoyed since childhood.

In this painting, Zhang imbues the ancient Chinese symbol of the lotus with a pop sensibility. Flourishes of purple–pink coalesce around a focal point that frames a blossoming lotus – a flower traditionally associated with elegance, longevity and other virtues.

‘I’ve reflected deeply on the concept of an “Australian landscape”,’ Zhang says. ‘My artwork has been interpreted in this context before but was never fully recognised as “Australian”, like me. I see my experiences with our landscape as inherently “Australian” and intertwined with my Chinese–Australian heritage.’