Q&A: Amnion with Georgia Morton

In its fifth year, The Wall at Honkytonks has allowed new and emerging artists to showcase their work without commission or gallery fees. With a new artist every fortnight, ANU Arts/Visual Arts student Georgia Morton was recently chosen to have her art on display at The Wall. I sat down with Georgia to talk about her artworks, Amnion and what she plans to do in the future.
So Georgia, what inspired you to pursue art?
Well, I always drew from a young age like all kids, and my mum bought me watercolours and drawing books on how to draw animals and I started developing skills at five years old. I think a lot of kids grow out of it and forget about drawing but I kept drawing.
Growing up on the shores of NSW, did you find more inspiration to paint when you moved to Canberra?
For me, Canberra was actually a place where I drew inspiration from. This series was inspired by the mountains in Canberra. You’re always driving and you’ll see the mountain peaks and you’re surrounded by mountains here. I felt like a lot of times you’re inside a house or a building, you’re looking out and you see this amazing part of nature. That’s what some of my work is about. So Canberra, the mountains and nature of it, it has a spark; there’s not a lot of people, there’s not a lot of buildings, but it’s definitely pretty inspiring to live here.
Your work entails the “concerns and concentration of the control of organic farms by human forces”, how do you express that through your painting?
For me, I don’t express my emotions but more sensation. It’s about being inside a building and looking out of a window; it’s being controlled and concentrated. You’re in a building but it’s not all around you, it’s outside, out of a frame, out of a window and you’re inside.
It’s hard to put it on paper, but that’s what I try and convey; the sensation of being inside and looking out. 
What do you plan on doing once you finish studying? Do you plan to pursue visual arts?
I’m doing a Bachelor of Arts/Visual Arts, majoring in English. I’ve finished the Visual Arts subject now and working on my Arts subjects for this year. After I study, I’m thinking of going into social work, which is completely random. But I don’t think I want to make art as my only thing, I’d like to have it as a therapeutic thing, where I can go to and forget things or bring my problems to.
How do you feel about your artwork being showcased tonight?
I’m really nervous. I think it’s a lot of fear and confidence too. I’ve always been fearful to push it and experiment and if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t matter. So with these things, that’s what that was about and it worked.
What does Amnion mean to you and your art?
Well the word comes from Amniotic, to do with the amniotic fluid in a pregnant lady’s stomach. It’s like a protective kind of barrier for the child. So I think I got (the idea) because I’ve used the circle, which is a very organic form and feminine and very protective and confident. Amnion was just trying to express the sensation of comfort and seeing nature outside. That’s what Amnion is.
 
Georgia Morton’s art exhibition, Amnion, was showcased at Honkytonks from the 23rd March to the 5th April.