Tara Del Rey
Biography
Always ahead of her time, Tara Del Rey declared herself a post-postmodern artist in 1996 while still at art college. Fatigued by the cynicism and moral relativism of postmodernism, and in direct defiance of her tutors, Del Rey fearlessly stated, “Postmodernism is Dead.” Del Rey insistently pioneered a new movement of post-postmodern art, focusing unapologetically on sincerity, beauty, and wholeness.
Del Rey's jewel-like oil paintings, challenging but lyrical art performances, and films have toured widely internationally to public and professional acclaim.
Artist Statement
Swimming Naked with Sharks - Tara Del Rey
“The Magical Protective Power of Vulnerability”
Born of an unexpected encounter between an injured artist and two of the world’s deadliest predators, Swimming Naked with Sharks is a meditation on fragility and unpredictability.
The 2-minute video and multimedia canvas series have received rave reviews internationally and been honoured with multiple awards, including Artists for Peace and Artists for a Green Planet. The artwork, which is dedicated to the preservation of sharks as an endangered species, is available globally for art shows and environmental events, along with artist talks.
“Indigenous Hawaiian culture has an ancient but enduring tradition of families having ancestral animal guardian spirits, or ‘aumakua, such as the shark, the owl, and the dolphin.
Individuals have a duty to care for and protect their ‘aumakua.
I am lucky enough to have swum with a pair of nature’s deadliest predators and emerged unscathed.
Though terrifying at the time,
I now feel
blessed,
mysteriously, magically protected,
humbled,
forever imprinted by the fragility of all life.
In return for this special blessing, I have dedicated my art resulting from this extraordinary encounter to raising awareness of the need to preserve and protect sharks as a species from destruction by us humans through overfishing and habitat destruction.
Website: www.TaraDelRey.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/taradelreyart
SWIMMING NAKED WITH SHARKS 1, 2025, Mixed Media on Canvas, 30cm x 30cm
SWIMMING NAKED WITH SHARKS 2, 2025, Mixed Media on Canvas, 30cm x 30cm
SWIMMING NAKED WITH SHARKS 3, 2025, Mixed Media on Canvas, 30cm x 30cm
SWIMMING NAKED WITH SHARKS 4, 2025, Mixed Media on Canvas, 30cm x 30cm
SWIMMING NAKED WITH SHARKS 5, 2025, Mixed Media on Canvas, 30cm x 30cm
SWIMMING NAKED WITH SHARKS 6, 2025, Mixed Media on Canvas, 30cm x 30cm
SWIMMING NAKED WITH SHARKS 7, 2025, Mixed Media on Canvas, 30cm x 40cm
SWIMMING NAKED WITH SHARKS 8, 2025, Mixed Media on Canvas, 30cm x 40cm
SWIMMING NAKED WITH SHARKS 9, 2025, Mixed Media on Canvas, 40cm x 30cm
SWIMMING NAKED WITH SHARKS 10, 2025, Mixed Media on Canvas, 30cm x 40cm
