“At almost every conceivable level of our imagining, it is impossible to create a change without a discontinuity, without a moment of not knowing who we are, or what we are going to become. Rupture precedes revolution.”

Ruth Allen - Weathering

In my work I explore transformation and change through the interplay between pattern, colour and abstraction. Working with paint and thread, I fragment, layer and interweave geometric forms to create evolving compositions and new structures.

I use collage as the starting point for the work, embracing construction through destruction and creating the conditions for new forms to emerge. Through the processes of cutting, displacing, layering and concealing I can invite the principles of disorder and chance into my work, allowing me to capture those moments of surprising beauty that can arise through the interactions of patterns and in the resolution of their imperfect alignments.

This practice of fragmentation and repair—akin to the Japanese art of kintsugi—celebrates resilience, showing how fragility and strength can coexist. The abstract patterns and forms I manipulate echo the complexities of natural systems, but my true inspiration lies deeper. It emerges from ideas of interference and complexity, rooted in chaos theory and quantum mechanics, where dynamic systems interact and evolve in unexpected ways.

My aim is to develop an abstract visual language that balances spontaneity and responsiveness with precision and geometry, reflecting both the messiness and beauty of the tapestries of structures that shape our world.

Claire Mooney is a visual artist and art teacher who lives and works in Melbourne/Naarm. She lives with her husband and dog near the Darebin Creek in Reservoir.