NEWS: Compound Interest

by James Marten

You might have seen Bec Adamczewski’s beautiful murals about Tasmania. This month she opens Compound, a solo exhibition at Salamanca Arts Centre.

Compound is your first solo exhibition since art school. How did this come about and why now? Over the last 20-or-so years, my creative career has had many seasons; as a graphic designer, a mum, illustrator, object designer, volunteer, design educator, and a muralist! From each of these seasons, I have been fortunate to blend the parts I really love into a career which I adore. While I’ve had work in group shows over the years, there has always been a deep desire to create artworks which tell a story over multiple pieces. In mid-2025 I took the plunge into a new season with a new studio space at Salamanca Arts Centre (the first space of my very own!) and created the body of work for Compound.

What does the title Compound mean to you, and how does it relate to the work inside? The title references the compounding pressures shaping and changing Lutruwita/Tasmania’s environment; climate change, land clearing, and ongoing misuse, along with the compound layers of visual language within each artwork. Organic photographic textures from local habitats are inlaid within the smooth forms of digital illustration; each artwork is a blend of mediums and meaning.

The work sits across illustration and photography. How do those two disciplines interact within this body of work? The ‘in-between’ places have always fascinated me! Where design meets craft, the crossover of art in urban spaces, and how experimenting with different mediums can tell new stories to new audiences. I have always loved botanical illustration and wanted to create work which is a nod to the rich history of scientific art – the art of observation. Reimaging these ideas through digital illustration techniques and adding depth by inlaying photographs, has created a body of work where I celebrate and highlight common, threatened, and endangered local birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, and insects of Lutruwita/Tasmania.

What do you hope people take away after experiencing the show? I hope that Compound is an invitation to slow down and notice the beauty around us and connect with the delicate balance of our unique endemic species, intrinsically linked with their habitats… even jack jumpers can be beautiful!

You also create large-scale murals. Which is your current favourite around town? That is such a great (and tough) question! I would have to say my current favourite is Time and Tide at Blinking Billy Point, Sandy Bay. It was such a fantastic project to work on with TasWater, City of Hobart and Art for the Sea. Time and Tide allowed me the opportunity to mentor two fabulous emerging artists Kate Deane and Shiloh Quilliam, and take part in workshops listening to young people’s views on care for our oceans. I love all the local species we highlighted, loved the teamwork, and loved the location!

Love this

Extras

Hobart Happenings

by Steph Williams

Bits and Pieces- June 2026

Hobart Happenings

by Steph Williams

Bits and Pieces – May 2026

Bits and Pieces- May 2026

Stay up to date with everything happening at the Hobart Magazine.

Worker shortage is currently universal, there isn’t an industry that’s exempt. For Kelvin Smith, four years ago he decided there was a very obvious solution to the shortage facing the construction industry, and all that was needed was a little time, empathy and a helping hand. Integrate Workforce is a Hobart-based labour company with one requirement: a refugee/ migrant background. He’s also the outdoor piano man in his free time.

Landscape artist and creative Elliott Nimmo is enjoying discovering Hobart’s vibrant art scene and local environment after relocating here from London to pursue his art.

Even though Tasmania is known for its mild summers, it doesn’t take much to get sunburnt. Tasmania experiences extreme ultraviolet (UV) levels, but contrary to popular belief this isn’t due to the hole in the ozone layer, which is actually south of the continent.While higher UV levels often occur at the same time as higher temperatures, the two are not linked. Instead, UV levels are determined by the angle of the sun in the sky: the higher the sun, the higher the UV. In December and January, the position of the sun over Tasmania gives the state a UV index of 11 or more on most days, which is classified as “extreme” on the UV index. Tasmania’s lack of humidity and generally clear skies contribute to the stinging feeling of the sun. UV can reflect off buildings and water, making it possible to get a higher dose of UV from these reflected rays, even in the shade.

Setting up shop during a pandemic was a risky move, but if the crowd at Dāna Eating House (Dāna) on a Friday night is anything to go by, it’s one that’s paid off. With tables of diners chatting and laughing over drinks, the music and conversation buzzes off the monstera-leaf-green walls. Low-hanging rattan lights and worn wooden floorboards give the newly opened South-East Asian fusion venue in Hobart’s CBD a relaxed vibe.

A Holyman flagged ship hasn’t steamed up the River Derwent since 1984 but the company’s name still proudly adorns its former offices at 5 Morrison Street, Hobart.

Widening the Tasman Bridge to allow 3.5 metres on each side is a big win for walkers and cyclists.

Need a laugh? Check out @theinspiredunemployed feed on Instagram.

Rain, hail and shine, the school crossing guards are always there to help with a smile on their face.

It’s hard to believe it’s not standard practice to have a working phone in every aged care room - shared phones make private conversations impossible and increase the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Just when you think your cousins are alright. NZ Opposition Leader Judith Collins took aim at Tassie during her recent (unsuccessful) campaign, calling us Australia’s “poor cousin.” She also seems worried about us nabbing tech businesses, “It’s a lovely part of the world but do you necessarily want to go there with your high- tech business? Possibly not,” she said. We beg to differ!