Elly Hope & Naomi Segal

Elly and Naomi have provided some insights into their creative backgrounds and the development of their exhibition: Soul Synergy.

Synergy is the interaction or cooperation of two or more things to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects.

Elly Hope

Self portrait by Elly Hope.

I have over 25 years of experience in community arts, creative arts therapies, and art psychotherapy/counselling. I have worked extensively with a range of clientele, including children, adolescents, and adults. As well as adults affected by addictions and mental health concerns.

Throughout my career, I remained passionate about the creative arts, and especially the therapeutic nature of Art Therapy. As an art psychotherapist, I am interested in the image as a visual representation and expression of complex thoughts and feelings.

When Naomi initially invited me to illustrate some of her poems, it provided a unique opportunity for me to explore this interest, and I was inspired to create figurative responses to the poems that were particularly meaningful for me.

The project was also a vehicle for re-entry into my personal visual art practice. Once I began, I became increasingly interested in the synergy between the poems and the paintings.

Elly's paintings in response to Naomi's evocative poems. From left to right: Autumn, Family, and On becoming a memory between William and James Street

Naomi Segal

Portrait of Naomi Segal by Elly Hope

I started my career in Australia working as a librarian, then detoured into environmental activism and helping my partner lead wilderness expeditions to many parts of the world. Finally, I chose the less adventurous life of a university academic.

Through it all I wrote: press releases during my activism stage, a very long Phd thesis and academic publications thereafter.

Since 2017, I have been the organiser of the Victoria Park Writers’ Group (recently incorporated).

In my poetry I aim for honesty, directness, simplicity, accessibility, universality, and brevity.

Promotional poster: