Better - The Solo Exhibition & Debut EP Launch
Event description
☆ Better ☆
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
&
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐄𝐏
☆ 𝐄𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐀𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 / 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐢 ☆
☆
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭
Better is a deeply personal exploration of mental health, childhood memories, the impact of a nomadic upbringing, and the profound yearning for a past marked by both joy and adversity. It presents an invitation to reflect on the conundrum of early adulthood; the balancing act of processing and making peace with the past, while somehow also trying to forge ahead and build a future.
Better sees the artist bending the limitations on what to keep and what to throw away. Each work uses materials either found, repurposed, or gifted, highlighting the artists’ constant pursuit of thoughtful and sustainable ways of being. The idea of improvement is explored through the re-enchantment of objects otherwise destined to gather dust on op-shop shelves, or rot away in landfill.
Better navigates the artists’ journey through the turbulent processes of recovery from loss, overcoming pain and doubt, taking control to improve ones’ own odds, and blindly, maybe stupidly, holding on to hope.
☆
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜
“The Better EP was created between 2020 and 2021, during a music course that I took after a mental-breakdown-inspired career leap from architecture & construction. A performer and writer since I was little, this EP is the culmination of a lifelong fire that I have been quietly stoking. Originally crafted under the band name Orange Butter Club and dreamt up by myself and co-writer Leon Antonov, the Better project provided ease from the anxiety of covid lockdowns and some incredibly shitty life stuff. Right after we completed recording and began playing our first string of shows in late 2021/early 2022, I encountered 3 huge family losses in short succession. The project lost momentum, and we never really got it back. I thought Better would never see the light of day, but two years later I’ve finally made the push to share it with the world as a solo project.
While the songs contain similar instrumentation, each feels unique from the last. They equally contrast and complement one another, resulting in a guitar-laden body of work with genre-bending indie pop, neo-soul and aussie soft rock influences shining through each track. The EP title reflects the overarching theme that was unintentionally explored across the four songs; they each convey either a longing for better days or a promise that they are coming.
The irony of writing really uplifting songs like ‘sunny’ and ‘bad days’ before facing some of the hardest years of my life is not lost on me. I like to think that I was unknowingly crafting this gift for future me back then, preparing a soothing melody for her and a reminder that we will make it through.
I hope it can provide this same sense of solace for everyone who hears it.”- stonnii
☆ 𝐃𝐉 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝
☆ 𝐃𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝟔𝐩𝐦
☆ $𝟓 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 (𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬)
☆ 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 & 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 (𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫)
𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐢𝐨;
Eden Ariston is a self-taught artist currently residing and creating on Waddawurrung land in Djilang, Australia. A multi-disciplinary creative, Edens' practice involves painting, drawing, music, clay sculpture, digital illustration, photography, tattoo and poetry. Edens’ artwork is driven by her background in architecture, her conflicted connection with the stolen land she calls home, her deep love for animals and nature, and the use of creativity as an outlet for processing grief and trauma.
Singer, songwriter, producer & bleeding heart; stonnii prides herself as a multi-disciplinary creative who refuses to be bound by limitations. Beyond ready to burst onto the scene, her debut EP 'Better' is set for release in May 2024. Pulling together her favourite elements of indie pop, Australian soft rock and neo-soul, stonnii sets forth on a path of her own.