Medika

Medika meaning Blossom Flower.
A part of a collection that delves into our emotional, psycological and social welbeing or in other words our mental health.
I find hair a meditative thing to paint and when combined with natures offerings creates some interesting human and non-human forms.
Your hair is and integral part of your identity and an extension of your spirit. Very symbolic across most cultures.
Medika was created to embody the beautiful Black cockatoo and the australian banksia and flowers.
My journey with this series gave me the opportunity to look at colour, shapes and form within our wildlife and combine it with the human form. A blending of something that should be harmonious but is often disjointed in today’s climate.
Available on professional quality stretched canvas, varnished and ready to hang.
Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this beautiful piece.

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Rachel South is a Queensland-based artist whose practice explores emotional and sensory landscapes through vibrant oil and acrylic paintings. Her work often blends symbolic natural forms with intimate portraiture, using fine detail, colour, and contrast to evoke memory, connection, and reflection.

Her recent work investigates the sensory qualities of hair, feathers, and fur, using layered brushwork to explore ideas of intimacy, memory, and identity through touch and sensation. In 2025, Rachel was awarded a Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) grant to support the growth of this body of work, furthering her exploration of felt experience in visual form.

Rachel’s paintings have been recognised across Queensland, with multiple finalist selections in regional and national art awards, including the Moreton Bay Art Prize where she was awarded third place. Her practice continues to evolve through both solo and group exhibitions, with works held in private collections throughout Australia. Inspired by the natural environment of Moreton Bay and Elimbah, her art is both contemplative and immersive, inviting viewers to pause within the layered experiences of identity, memory, and place.