Rina Genis has lived in Possum Creek for more than 20 years, but her journey began in Amsterdam during World War II. At just five years old, she was placed in an orphanage and lived through the German occupation of Holland. Despite those difficult beginnings, she went on to build a rich and adventurous life centred on family, creativity and art.
Rina and her late husband, Fred Genis, were married for 63 years. After travelling to Australia on an immigration ship bound for Melbourne, Fred famously decided he had other plans. Rather than disembark into an immigration camp, he hid aboard the ship and continued on to Sydney.
Fred later established himself as one of Australia’s most respected lithographers, collaborating with renowned artists including Brett Whiteley, John Olsen, Tim Storrier and Lloyd Rees. Having already built a successful career in America and Europe, Fred quickly found work in Australia’s vibrant art scene when the family permanently migrated to Sydney in 1979 with their three daughters.
Rina’s own artistic journey spans a lifetime. Her father was a restorer of classical paintings in Holland, and art was always part of her world. For 17 years she worked as a ceramic artist, creating pottery on a wheel in a cave studio on the family’s bushland property in Sydney. After retiring to Possum Creek, Rina developed an interest in watercolour painting. She was encouraged and mentored by the late Carol Cook, a founder of Bangalow’s Heartbeat (precursor to this publication), who painted alongside her for two years.
Later, Rina discovered the art of mandalas. She found the process inspiring, challenging and deeply meditative. For the past seven years she has dedicated herself to creating intricate mandala artworks, exploring colour, symmetry and mindfulness through her practice. Although Rina attended countless exhibitions throughout Fred’s lithography career and met artists from around the world, this will be her first exhibition as an exhibiting artist.
True to her collaborative spirit, Rina chose not to hold a solo exhibition. Instead, she has invited fellow mandala artists to join her in a group exhibition celebrating creativity, connection and the shared joy of artistic expression.
At 87, Rina’s exhibition is a testament to the idea that creativity has no age limit and that new chapters can begin at any stage of life.
The Mandala Collaboration Exhibition will open at Coorabell Hall on Friday 24 July at 5pm and continue through Saturday 25 July and Sunday 26 July.
Tickets Free entry
Info coorabellhall.net | 0407 848 054
Artists Bina Genis, Zimmi Forest and Sonja Davies come together for a weekend exhibition exploring the beauty and symbolism of the mandala. Featuring works inspired by pattern, geometry and the natural world, the exhibition showcases three distinct artistic interpretations of this ancient form. Visitors can attend the opening event on Friday evening at 5pm or view the exhibition across the weekend at Coorabell Hall, 10am – 3pm.