Eldars' work examines and conceptualises social-political, cultural and environmental issues which she makes intuitively and spontaneously using different techniques and materials. Place and identity, fragility of the landscape and of the human beings within a landscape, the refugee crisis in particular resonates and she has been making works in both 2 and 3d that address these charged issues that resonate with some of her own personal experiences of turmoil in the middle East and work with charities helping refugees. 

Combining found objects, recycling and re-appropriating items such as single children's lost shoe as a starting point, or turning recycled sheets into a Moses basket in a piece called ‘I Will Return’ filled with handmade and marked clay tokens that she made which represent tokens that were left by mothers who had to gave up their babies, who would have otherwise been abandoned on the streets. These mothers gave up their children because they could not look after them or feed them. It was a matter of survival and many of these tokens were a representation of the mothers’ love and care.

Eldars also paints large seascapes and landscapes, these important spaces, under threat at times and sanctuaries at other times particularly in an escalating migrant and refugee crisis. As a diver too, Eldars sees firsthand the devastation pollution is being done to our seas. These landscapes allows her to express feelings and emotions freely and impulsively, telling stories with bold messy shapes, lines, and bright vivid colours. 

Her work is physical, material and energetic, with deliberate strokes and mark making, abstracting and transporting her emotions and thoughts onto paper, canvas or installations investigating cultural, social and environmental issues. Influenced by her upbringing in Egypt, her love for the Red Sea as well as the Kentish countryside, where she is currently living.

Biography:

Over 30 years, she has worked in the creative and graphic design industries. Since 2015, her focus has been on her visual arts practice. She is a member of Sevenoaks Visual Arts Forum (SVAF), exhibited at the Kaleidoscope Gallery in Sevenoaks, No Format Gallery in Deptford as well as other events. 

As a member of Jessops Farm Studios and gallery, Kent, an artist led space, she  involved with supporting artists and encourage art in the community, by organising shows, workshops, meetings and crits. 

Recently, she has worked with Southeast Communities Rail Partnership at Penshurst Station. The station shelter was turned in to public art gallery space. As well as an exhibiting artist, I project managed the planning and production process.

Presently, Sally is on the steering committee for Art in June 2021 Open Studios, as well as managing  AIJ social media.  She is also helping members with; how to prepare for open studios, networking and use social media during Covid restrictions. 

Her digital knowledge has enabled me to support (SVAF) by setting up an online exhibition ‘More Than’ (in the absence of physical exhibitions), as well as preparing the graphics for artists to use. 

Most recently, Sally responded to lockdown by creating an unconventional gallery 'The Open Dresser Gallery'  to curate and showcase artists work in a unique and unconventional way and outside the confined spaces of traditional galleries. The aim of which is to promote art and artists in the community and beyond.