Above & Below, 2017, Silk, copper filament, 870mm x 670mm (framed)
Above and Below, 2017, explores the liminal space between land and sky and the sense of wonder the experience of flight provokes. For me, travelling by aeroplane constantly evokes a sense of astonishment – the engineering and physics of flight; defying gravity and the sense of time between locations; detaching from the familiar; observing earth from a distance. The beauty of coastal foreshores, mist covered mountain ranges and patch worked pastures oscillates our perspective of our environment from mundane neglect to renewed reverence. Our earth is defiantly beautiful and our place upon it is put swiftly into perspective.
The fleeting glimpse of land from above is expressed through the layering of translucent silk. Fine copper filament quietly seams each piece together, referencing the time-honoured Korean technique of bojagi wrapping cloths. The act of altering opacity by overlaying silk mimics the experience of flying through cloud formations. The suspension of each textile between double-sided glass expands the sense of existing between two worlds.
Sustainable practices of upcycling materials, naturally dyed shibori, eco-printing techniques and collaborating with United Measures, an Australian-based framing business, endeavors to reflect the renewed respect for the earth that is I always gained after flight. Paradoxically, air travel is an act of extreme pollution. This is an area that requires consideration and balance so that each flight taken is one that contributes positively in other ways. Making art that acknowledges the issues of our carbon footprint is my way of contributing to the conversation.
Image Credit: Christian Capurro
This piece was included in the Materiality exhibition, Town Hall Gallery, Melbourne.