BioPak Art Series
Zoe Sernack paints Australian landscapes from memory: bush, botanicals and gum trees, reimagined from feeling rather than fact. She's one of the recent artists featured in the BioPak Art Series, our program that puts original work from local artists onto our compostable coffee cups. Her piece, Meraz, is printed on our 12oz Art Series cups, currently in circulation.
We caught up with Zoe to talk about her work, the story behind Meraz, and why she believes art should be accessible to everyone.
Painting Since Childhood
Zoe always knew she wanted to be an artist. "I was that kid that would rush home from school and just paint and draw," she says. She went straight from school into the National Art School, and hasn't stopped painting since.
Her style sits within Abstract Expressionism, intuitive painting built from memories of the Australian bush. Inspiration comes from everyday moments: a tree shape while driving, shadows, a seascape. She's a regular at Sydney's Centennial Park, and spent much of her childhood in the Blue Mountains. "It's pretty easy to be inspired quickly," she says. "We're lucky in Australia."
The Story Behind Meraz
Meraz is heavily layered. Zoe estimates at least twenty layers, with some detail scratched directly into the surface. It's also one of the few pieces where she's used red. "It's a very courageous colour to use," she says, "but there's so many different shades and warmth in there."
Titling her work is intuitive too — often drawn from the instrumental jazz she paints to. "I don't want to dictate to the viewer what is happening," she says. "It's up to them to interpret their own memories."
From Canvas to Cup
Seeing her work on a cup was a first for Zoe. "It's a no-brainer putting my artwork on something that's sustainable and looking after the world," she says.
For Zoe, it's also about accessibility. "Galleries can be intimidating. A coffee cup can hold it, and you can make an opinion on it because it's an everyday object. Art should be accessible to everybody." It's part of why she chose to donate this piece: "It warms my heart knowing it's in someone's home who maybe couldn't afford it, or didn't know about me before."
Her Advice to Other Artists
"I would urge artists to submit their work to the Art Series. Not everyone can afford artwork, but they might hold your cup and get to know you. It's a great way to have a bit of fun with your art."
Spot Meraz in the Wild
Zoe's design is already out on 12oz Art Series cups at cafes near you. Keep an eye out — and if you spot it, snap a photo and share it through @BioPak or #BioPakArtSeries.
Are you an artist? We're always looking for local talent to feature in the next Art Series release.
Become Part of the #BioCupArtSeries
BioPak launched the first BioCup Art Series in August 2013, working with artists who are passionate about the environment and use related themes in their work. These artists identified this collaboration as a platform to gain exposure for their work and broadcast their message that the environment is everyone’s business and our values are global.
Win the Artwork!
Terms & Conditions
- Open to Australian residents aged 18 years and over.
- Competition opens Wednesday 29th July and closes at 11:59pm AEST on Wednesday 5th August.
- Participants may enter multiple times. Each entry must be unique and submitted as a separate comment.
- To enter, participants must follow @BioPak and @zoesernack.art, like this post and comment as outlined above.
- The winner will be selected by random electronic draw from all eligible entries received and announced via BioPak’s Instagram Stories on Friday 7th August.
- The winner will also be contacted via Instagram direct message.
- Employees of BioPak, Zoe Sernack and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter.
- The winner must provide an Australian postal address for delivery of the prize. BioPak will arrange delivery at no cost within Australia.
- If the winner does not respond within 7 days, a new winner may be selected.
- Prize consists of one original Zoe Sernack artwork, Meraz, valued at $1100 AUD. Prize is not transferable or redeemable for cash.
- BioPak reserves the right to verify entries and disqualify any entrant who tampers with the entry process or submits entries that are incomplete, offensive, misleading or otherwise not in accordance with these Terms & Conditions.
- This competition is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Instagram.