Mystik River Gallery unveils Dharshi de Silva’s Return to Eden

Mystik River Gallery in Southbank has opened its latest exhibition, Return to Eden, a contemplative solo showcase by Sri Lankan–Australian contemporary artist Dharshi de Silva. 

Running until February 8, 2026, the exhibition explores the idea of Eden not as a mythical paradise lost, but as a renewed state of balance between humans and the natural world.

De Silva, celebrated for her distinctive eco-print practice, draws directly from the living textures of her Mornington Peninsula garden. Leaves, bark, flowers and blooms form the basis of each work, not through depiction but through direct contact. 

Botanical material is steam-printed or light-exposed onto raw canvas, allowing nature to leave its own imprint before the artist refines each piece with natural pigments and soft pastels.

The result is a body of work that holds “time, light and change” within its surfaces.

Rather than presenting fixed images, the pieces reflect cycles of decay and renewal, inviting viewers to engage with nature as a rhythm rather than a static subject.

Across the series, subtle references to visual narratives and art-historical iconography can be found in the play of line and colour.

Rooted in feminine energy, de Silva’s paintings channel generative power and resilience. The exhibition positions harmony not as a passive ideal, but as an active, ongoing relationship with the world that sustains us.

Return to Eden has been curated by Elena Nekliudova, with project assistance from Tara Baker, Tereza Biezaite, Daniela Hernandez, Sarah Luate, Laksh Madan and Daniel Strada. 

The exhibition is presented under the direction of gallery founders Roman and Lolita Romanoff.

The show is now open at Mystik River Gallery, located on the mid level of the Southgate Shopping Centre at 3 Southgate Avenue, Southbank.