Lismore Arts Quadrangle, Lismore Music Conservatorium (undercroft studio/ gallery space)

'Flooded'

Burnt Paper, bathtub, river mud, river water,  wedding gifts (crystal objects: bowl, wine glasses)

 

This work was a response to both my history of trauma and the recent Lismore regional flooding events, that had impacted the studio. The studio belonged to fellow artist Jennifer Collins and had been flooded, with all of her artist journals and many works destroyed by flood waters that inundated the city. 

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The paper was burnt, above the height of the previous Lismore flood height inside the studio gallery space. This represented the conscious, or visible scars and memories of traumatic events. Inside the bathtub was river mud, river water, some of my wedding gifts (crystal bowls, wine glasses, various objects). I had imagined that the mud (representing loss and trauma) would seep up and stain the paper.

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However, the paper acted as a form of filter paper and only clean water seeped up the paper. This became a symbol for the healing and recovery, that may occur after traumatic events. This work spoke to an audience recovering from the trauma of major flooding. One woman told me that it made her cry and another person said that they could not look at the piece, as it reminded them of their loss.

 

There was no statement next to the work, as I wanted its meaning to be open to the viewer's interpretation.