Rebecca Odessa Isle of Man

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I am a New Zealand born painter and filmmaker living and working on the Isle of Man. I have a BA in Religious Studies, and an MA Fine Art from Central Saint Martins. My work has a strong relationship to place, particularly locations that are considered sacred, as well as symbolic, and often archaic representations of natural phenomena.

My art practice is fed by research into subjects and ideas that draw from history, religion, mythology, and the environment. The current focus of my work is water - its scientific properties, ancient rites associated with it, and the mythological representations of its characteristics. I became fascinated with water after I moved to the Isle of Man and began living by the sea. Over time, I began to regard the sea not merely as a natural phenomenon, but also as a living entity that it is possible to cultivate a relationship with. As this relationship deepened, it influenced my art practice, and eventually became the focus of my work. Although my love of water began with the sea, the water I am most interested in is fresh water - i.e., underground aquifers, rivers, and lakes etc. I am particularly interested in wells, which are a vital part of the human story, and have a rich history, mythology, and ritualised engagement associated with them. My intention as an artist is to tell the stories of such history, mythology and engagement, through both painting and film.