“Wish you were here… I’m not” #cruiselife #unseen
“Wish you were here… I’m not” #cruiselife #unseen
By artist: Jacqui Burnell
Chalk paint, lacquer, porcelain air dry clay, leather, glass, brass. 14 x 16 x 18 cm
In an age where the world has never been more accessible, the way that we experience it has never been more detached. This small clay sculpture, viewed through the fixed frame of a ship’s porthole, captures a traveller poised for a perfect selfie: her body is present, but her attention is elsewhere. The ocean stretches behind her as a vast and extraordinary world, yet remains unseen. Instead, her focus is on curating a moment for the camera and constructing a memory she may never fully inhabit. Unseen “wish you were here… I’m not” explores the tension between globalisation and digitisation: we cross oceans with ease, yet increasingly encounter life through screens, filters, and devices that promise connection but often obscure the real experience. The porthole becomes a metaphor for both opportunity and confinement, while the phone becomes a second window that distances her from the very world she documents. Humorous and intimate, the work invites viewers to question what is truly seen, remembered, or felt when technology mediates every moment.
About the artist.
Jacqui Burnell is a Brisbane-based self-taught artist whose practice spans painting, functional art, and imaginative creations using air dry clay and ceramics. After leaving a long-term corporate career in 2017 due to sudden onset of a chronic illness, Jacqui returned to art as a form of personal restoration. What began as therapy evolved into a vibrant multidisciplinary practice grounded in curiosity, storytelling, and a love of pattern and colour. Working with chalk paint, acrylics, and clay, Jacqui moves fluidly between canvas, sculpture, and furniture. Her painted furniture pieces are known for their richly layered patinas, aged effects, and handcrafted patterns that evoke a sense of history and narrative. On canvas, she explores still life and portrait realism, often leaning toward bold maximalist colour. Her clay work brings forth whimsical characters, expressive faces, and animals that are each infused with personality and charm.
Collection or delivery.
This item is part of the Plant Empire Small Wonders Exhibition 2026, on display from 9 May - 7 June. Exhibition items are available for sale in person or online. In the unlikely event that a customer purchases the item in-store at the same time as it is sold online, we will refund the online purchase - thank you in advance for your understanding if this situation does occur. Exhibition pieces will be available for collection in-store or delivered from 11-14 June: to collect your item in person, please select the 'in-store pickup' option at checkout; or to have it delivered, please select either the Australia Post or courier option (Brisbane only) at checkout and your delivery fee will be calculated automatically.