Concetta Antico has an extremely rare condition that she sees as being blessed with a wonderful gift.
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The talented artist sees more colour than anyone else and tries to express it through her painting.
Visitors to Minnamurra Cafe are this month among the first to see it in Australia.
Ms Antico is already internationally known as an artist, but since being diagnosed with super vision she realised she wanted to try to convey the colour she sees to others. Her first exhibition since returning to Australia is being held near Kiama.
Researchers in the United States where Concetta Antico has lived for many years have found she has the building blocks for a fourth photoreceptor.
That means her eyes are developing through her visual art so she can see millions more shades of colour. When she realised others can’t see what she does she has tried to express it through her art.
Ms Antico has tetrachromacy. It’s so rare only a very small percentage of women have it. It allows her to see so much beauty, especially in nature. It is thought tetrachromacy could also hold the secret to finding a cure for colour blindness. So the Sydney born artist is the subject of much research.
“This is my first exhibition to bring my work back home to Australia,” she said.
“It happened because I was here seeing another exhibition with my cousin who lives here in Thirroul.
‘’I met Elise who runs this cafe and I like her. I have come home to create an art-mecca in Byron Bay. I have tried in the pieces I have chosen for this exhibition to show the love I have for my country. It is an homage to the beauty of our unique flora and fauna.
‘’To our history and to the things I think simplify why we are Australian and what we love when we see our flag and feel the passion we have for our great country.
‘’I wanted to bring the pieces that stir my heart and show my great love for this wonderful country. I plan to do a lot more Australian.”