Photo: Corrie Ancone

'Flowering Construct' Photo: Corrie Ancone

'Flowering Panel II' Photo Corrie Ancone

'Bird Tower' Photo: Catherine Acin

'Bird People' Photo: Catherine Acin

'Flowering Construct' (Detail) Photo: Catherine Acin

What lies beneath?

This work was created for a Gasworks Arts Park Exhibition about Contamination in 2007. The 15 resident artists from the park were asked to respond to the theme as it is relevant to the current situation at the park. The Gasworks Theatre has been used for the exhibition and Theatre lighting creates dramatic effects and shadows that show the work in a different light.  In my work the shelf represents the surface. The surface is covered in information I uncovered about contamination of gas works sites. In exploring this theme I discovered many of the heavy metal contaminants are ones that I use regularly in the creation of my own work. Above the surface is a silhouette of the Gasworks buildings and below are the containers that my colourants come in, including copper,chromium, iron and manganese. I have relabelled the containers describing toxic effects of thse substances and others that may be present. Hanging from the containers are skeletons that have been coloured using some of these contaminants. I like the idea that toxic substances can be transformed and used in a work of art.

Ghosts of the Past

Travelling to Prague in 2007 has had a profound affect on my art practice with a figurative element emerging. Ghosts of the Past was inspired by the amazing architecture of the city of Prague and its rich cultural history. The statue in the Old Town Square was being restored at the time of my visit and was under wraps evoking in me a sense of mystery, uncovered history and a desire to discover what it was that was underneath.

Ghosts of the Past 2

In my work the bridge links past to present. It represents human experience shaped over the millenniums. Figures lining the bridge signify developments pivotal to the current state of our existance, including enviromental,political, religious and medical concerns.This work was inspired by a recent visit to Prague in 2007 and the magnificent Charles Bridge that joins the Old Town to the New Town. My journey along this route led to the Prague Castle and a facinating exhibition tracing the development ot the site from Neolithic times.

The Towers made in 2006 refer to my desire to strive to achieve and dream up new adventures and journeys for my self. In working on these pieces I was able to further evolve my surface treatment by not only using a technique that leaves the surface embossed and textured but also scratching back and creating a more complex imagery.