Artist statement

My earliest memory is of a crowded kindergarten room filled with noise, movement, and children. I remember standing quietly as a silent observer, longing to connect with the other children but unsure how. Instead, I gravitated towards the art corner, where I began cutting and pasting pieces of paper. This choice, made at the age of three, became my refuge and a way of communicating throughout my life.

I grew up experiencing a sense of dissonance: an introverted child who appeared quiet and reserved on the outside, while carrying a vibrant, dramatic, and emotionally intense inner world. Art, dance, and writing became vessels for this hidden landscape, providing a language beyond spoken words.

The series of four works, Just a Wallflower, reflects on my childhood experience of being a “transparent child”, a quiet observer trying to make sense of a confusing world. Through collage, I reconstruct fragments of memories, emotions, and experiences. The use of magazine clippings, origami paper and acrylic-painted paper creates a layered and colourful visual language, transforming scattered pieces into a sense of harmony and beauty.

The work explores the space between invisibility and self-expression, revealing the vibrant inner world that exists beneath a quiet exterior. 

About the Artist

Ayelet Brooks is a Point Cook-based visual artist and muralist. She completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Monash University and has exhibited her work across Melbourne.

In her practice, Ayelet explores unexpected perspectives, experiments with bold and joyful colour combinations and infuses her work with a subtle sense of humour.