It would seem that nowhere in the history of art of any country has the landscape genre played such a large part of its visual expression as here in Australia. As a theme it constitutes 80 to 95% (depending on which book you read) of the total output in painting. Dinham looks at this 'traditional' subject from a different perspective; instead of viewing the broad vista from a high vantage point, she looks down at a piece of ground from head height.

In over 30 exhibits the artist explores the groundscape of outback stations, their fields of wildflowers outside and domestic flowers printed on linoleum or woven carpets inside. Inspired perhaps by work boots bringing crushed petals and seeds into the neat homestead, Dinham attempts to merge the two grounds; outside and inside, natural and artificial, wild and domesticated, public and private.

Her theory is valid and the 'technologically manipulated media' employed is highly sophisticated. In these mixed media exhibits  the process of fixing digital images onto the board is most intriguing while the resulting artwork is nostalgic and decorative. The reproductions of Persian carpets are a delight as their glorious patterns are dulled slightly by the process giving them a tired, old look. This is best illustrated in Fine Carpet Ground where carpet merges with earth without losing its hard edges. The floor covering seems to float just beneath a liquid surface to create an interesting sense of spatial ambiguity.

Merging precise floral patterns of linoleum into fields of desert wildflowers or a star studded night sky works in some images but not all. In many examples, like Roses In My Space and Sky Lino Flowers, the painted brush work is messy and lacks finesse leaving the photographic collage the only area of interest. One fears the artist is putting more effort in the process then the painting.

Thankfully Linoleum Depths works perfectly. Employing acrylic, wax and collage the artist's choice of  technique, texture and turquoise colour brings to mind some ancient Mediterranean mural unearthed by a team of archaeologists. It may not evoke ideas of an outback station kitchen, nonetheless it's a fine work of art.

One has to appreciate the concept of having our feet firmly planted on the ground in this wide brown land as we look up to the night sky crowed with constellations, and how Dinham brings these thoughts to us in an artistically adventurous manner. My one request is for the artist to pay less attention to the academic side of her art and look more to her practice.