THE DARK ARTS

By tapping into the spiritual, and all the things we cannot see, Sydney-based artist and florist Dr Lisa Cooper creates works of disquieting beauty.

- KIRSTIE CLEMENTS

In her studio in one of Sydney's most historic buildings, The Mint, where she sits as a permanent artist resident, Lisa Cooper is explaining some recent compositions.

"This one was commissioned by a photographer friend for the impending birth of his daughter," she says, indicating a ravishing arrangement of black velvet bows, deftly highlighted with darkest brown. "Black velvet draws so much light that you can barely document it," she says in her measured and very thoughtful way. "And the bow is a transfiguration of fabric into whimsy. I feel like it's a drawing of the light."