CATARACT GORGE ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM, LAUNCESTON CITY COUNCIL, TASMANIA
THE GORGE: A NATURAL LANGUAGE
I was given the opportunity to study the Gorge in great detail during my stay in Kings Bridge Cottage as a participant in the Launceston City Council’s Artist-in-Residence program. I undertook research, investigating the endemic and threatened species of flora and fauna that inhabit this region, the historical intervention of humans, and the still present Victorian influences including their philosophy of the “pleasure grounds”, the structures, and the introduced wildlife and flora.
The Gorge speaks to each individual in various ways. It offers a changing perceptual experience at different times of day and night. The changing light highlights colours and textures that are only evident at certain times of the day. It reveals patterns, abstractions and many human faces that I’ve discovered appearing in the dolerite cliffs. I’ve also observed that the Gorge is used by humans for recreation and health and fitness including jogging, swimming, climbing, hiking, bird watching and just strolling. Each individual experiences the Gorge visually in different ways - looking up, looking down, and blur of trees, footpaths and rocks. I’ve endeavoured to capture a variety of these perspectives as a participant in hiking, jogging, strolling, bird watching and investigating the details of the landscape.
This body of work forms a visual study of the elements of the Gorge and various perspectives that interest me. I have captured thousands of images that I have yet to review, and together with my research these images and experiences will continue to influence my work and will form the base for further conceptual art works on return to Queensland.
The Gorge speaks to each individual in various ways. It offers a changing perceptual experience at different times of day and night. The changing light highlights colours and textures that are only evident at certain times of the day. It reveals patterns, abstractions and many human faces that I’ve discovered appearing in the dolerite cliffs. I’ve also observed that the Gorge is used by humans for recreation and health and fitness including jogging, swimming, climbing, hiking, bird watching and just strolling. Each individual experiences the Gorge visually in different ways - looking up, looking down, and blur of trees, footpaths and rocks. I’ve endeavoured to capture a variety of these perspectives as a participant in hiking, jogging, strolling, bird watching and investigating the details of the landscape.
This body of work forms a visual study of the elements of the Gorge and various perspectives that interest me. I have captured thousands of images that I have yet to review, and together with my research these images and experiences will continue to influence my work and will form the base for further conceptual art works on return to Queensland.
