Four Gestures of a Grassland

An exhibition of collage works displayed in light boxes on the exterior wall of the Carlton Library, as part of the public exhibition program for Yarra City Arts. The works stem from a long-term engagement with Galada Tamboore, a temperate grassland on Wurundjeri Country in Melbourne’s north, persisting amidst industrial and suburban development. Formed from volcanic activity millions of years ago, the area is a vibrant expression of flora and fauna in the urban landscape and highly significant from cultural, ecological and geological perspectives.

Returning to the site over the course of several years, the artist recorded a series of solitary performances in response to the environment and the elemental forces that shape it. As a continuation of her encounter with the grassland, a set of collages were produced using photographs of collected indigenous and weed plant species from the area. The collages loosely reference both the artist’s performances and the phenomena of the grassland itself: gold leaf additions resemble the reflective objects used to channel light and wind in the performances, while shapes and symbols point to our elemental surroundings: earth, water, air, sun.

The exhibition was viewable 24/7 from March to September 2020. See a short video prepared for Yarra City Arts which gives an insight into the ideas behind the work.