Mangroves from the Water
Zahidah Zelda Zeytoun Millie
This exhibition presents selected works from two major installations, Canoe Art Installation and The Seed of Life, which form part of my ongoing Mangroves from the Water campaign, established in 2013 to inspire care for mangrove forests.
Rooted in field watercolour sketches and subsurface sound recordings made while kayaking in the Barwon Estuary, the central painting portrays mangroves from the perspective of a canoe, where Arabic calligraphy emerges from the roots to symbolise cultural and ecological interconnectedness. The handcrafted canoe represents both creative process and personal journey.
The Seed of Life explores the feminine form of the mangrove seed in cast recycled glass, expressing birth, regeneration and resilience.
My multidisciplinary practice combines painting, 360° film, sound, cast sculpture and illustrated story to extend the sensory experience of nature beyond the visual.
These works express a profound sense of belonging to the mangroves as a spiritual home.
Third Space Gallery is supported by City of Greater Geelong Community Arts Grant Program