Fire and Rain: ANCA Gallery, 2017
Fire and Rain explores the material possibilities of these elements and their capacity to shape the natural environment. Throughout history humans have endeavoured to harness both water and fire for their own comfort, safety and food production. Rain (including drought and flood) and fire events are becoming more frequent and severe due to human-induced climate change. Raging bushfires, flooding and perfect storms are a reminder that these natural phenomena are largely elusive to human command.
Ash, burns, rain, ink, salt and eucalyptus dyes are the mediums I have used to explore the material nature of fire and rain. The Rain Drawing series records the unique patterning of different rainfall events. They are subtle impressions of a time and place as they record the patterning of rainfall events through the combination of ink and rainwater. As the rain fell it pushed the ink around the paper mapping its speed, density, drop size, trajectory and heaviness. This has resulted in a series of drawings that seemingly capture the weather conditions, such as the clouds and lightening, at the time they were created.
Exhibition view
Feathered Flow. Ink and rain on paper, 110 x 60 cm
Perfect Balance. Ink, rain, burns and eucalyptus-stitched wool on paper, 56 x 76 cm
Exhibition view
Fire Drawings. Ash and burns on paper, 42 x 30 cm each
Rain Drawing (Deluge). Inka and rain on paper, 97 x 97 cm
Rain Drawing (Shower). Ink and rain on paper, 97 x 97 cm
Fire Drawing (detail) with shadow
Water Evocation. Eucalyptus dyes and pinpricks on paper, 56 x 76 cm
Regeneration after Rain. Ink, rain and stitched eucalyptus-dyed wool on paper. 56 x 56 cm
Regeneration after Fire. Eucalyptus dyes, eucalyptus ash and eucalyptus-dyed wool on canvas. 61 x 45.5 cm
Streaming. Ink and rain on paper, 60 x 106 cm
Holding Hope 1 and 2. Burns, pinpricks and stitched eucalyptus-dyed wool on hemp paper. 76 x 56 cm each
Fragile State. Burns on hemp paper, 76 x 56cm
Weeping. Eucalyptus ash, salt and stitched eucalyptus-dyed wool on canvas, 121 x 61 cm
Alchemy of Fire. Eucalyptus ash, burns and eucalyptus-dyed wool stitched to canvas. 121 x 71 cm