In the Eye of the Giant by Kate Mitchell takes the form of a slowly ascending digital scroll. The moving-image work, commissioned for the large screen in the Naala Badu atrium, visualises seven emotional states that shape the artist’s practice.
To connect with these invisible forces, Mitchell devised a 28-day ‘emotional devotional’ – a daily meditation in which she invited numerous emotions to commune with her. Rather than depicting the feelings themselves, she recorded the messages they offered and, like a scribe, created hundreds of ink drawings responding to joy, hope, anxiety, stress, love, trust, and clarity.
Arranged to form a vertical manuscript, In the Eye of the Giant extends the lineage of medieval illuminated texts created by women such as Hildegard of Bingen and Guda, who wove allusions to their own lives into their works.
As the 20-metre screen scrolls, the work offers a contemplative field. Running on a continuous loop, it acknowledges the transience of feeling and invites visitors to tune into the quiet intelligence of their own emotions.
Event Details:
Dates: 17 November 2025 – June 2026 (Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day)
Location: Art Gallery of New South Wales - Naala Badu building - Lower level 1
Notes: FREE