The Endangered exhibition focuses on endangered and vulnerable plants, animals and buildings of the Ipswich area. During the development of the project three distinct bodies of work emerged The Exquisite Corpse Series, Wreathed and Memorial.
Exquisite Corpse series:
A series of works as a response to what is seen as the end point for a species, the corpse. The series “the exquisite corpse” is a play on words (Influenced by the game “the exquisite corpse” created by the Surrealists). I created a series of drawings of animals with wings that are listed as endangered or vulnerable in Ipswich, Qld. Using drawings (made from "skins" or taxidermies from the Qld Museum) I created a series of hybrid animals using three or four parts per image. I also wanted to refer to a quote by William Borroughs “that which is recorded can be edited” and apply it to these fragments of the animal drawing on the history of Museum (Fijian Mermaid) and possible future cloning techniques.
Wreathed Series:
Hegel said “we learn from history that we do not learn from history”. In the series “Wreathed" I have drawn women in the doyliesation style surrounded by a wreath of some endangered plants of the Ipswich area. These images draw attention to our vulnerability as a species. The work serves as part memorial to the past and expression of concern for our future. Many early settler women collected materials for botanists in England to identify and name. Those women rarely received any recognition for their work despite its importance in establishing a record of the Australian flora and fauna. Crochet and embroidery were considered women’s work during that time. The women are placed within a wreath of endangered plants and feathers of endangered birds signifying concern for all species survival, including humans.
Memorial Series:
Ipswich is home to many industry buildings from Federation a few of them have been sold privately recently, leading to concern that they will be changed or made inaccessible to the community. The series “memorial” shows heritage buildings drawn using a technique I developed called doyliesation. I use the past coded language of crochet and doylies to create a nostalgic style of images of Ipswich as they may have been made by women in the past as keepsakes or treasures. The context creates a connection between the people/community who value the buildings and the buildings history. It is also a memorial to their use as community learning and workplaces.
The Endangered project was developed during an artist in residency at the Historic Old Courthouse, Ipswich. The Endangered project was proudly supported by the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF). The Regional Arts Development Fund is a Queensland Government initiative through Arts Queensland, Ipswich City Council partnership to support local arts and culture.
Photography by LeAnne Vincent
Exquisite Corpse series:
A series of works as a response to what is seen as the end point for a species, the corpse. The series “the exquisite corpse” is a play on words (Influenced by the game “the exquisite corpse” created by the Surrealists). I created a series of drawings of animals with wings that are listed as endangered or vulnerable in Ipswich, Qld. Using drawings (made from "skins" or taxidermies from the Qld Museum) I created a series of hybrid animals using three or four parts per image. I also wanted to refer to a quote by William Borroughs “that which is recorded can be edited” and apply it to these fragments of the animal drawing on the history of Museum (Fijian Mermaid) and possible future cloning techniques.
Wreathed Series:
Hegel said “we learn from history that we do not learn from history”. In the series “Wreathed" I have drawn women in the doyliesation style surrounded by a wreath of some endangered plants of the Ipswich area. These images draw attention to our vulnerability as a species. The work serves as part memorial to the past and expression of concern for our future. Many early settler women collected materials for botanists in England to identify and name. Those women rarely received any recognition for their work despite its importance in establishing a record of the Australian flora and fauna. Crochet and embroidery were considered women’s work during that time. The women are placed within a wreath of endangered plants and feathers of endangered birds signifying concern for all species survival, including humans.
Memorial Series:
Ipswich is home to many industry buildings from Federation a few of them have been sold privately recently, leading to concern that they will be changed or made inaccessible to the community. The series “memorial” shows heritage buildings drawn using a technique I developed called doyliesation. I use the past coded language of crochet and doylies to create a nostalgic style of images of Ipswich as they may have been made by women in the past as keepsakes or treasures. The context creates a connection between the people/community who value the buildings and the buildings history. It is also a memorial to their use as community learning and workplaces.
The Endangered project was developed during an artist in residency at the Historic Old Courthouse, Ipswich. The Endangered project was proudly supported by the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF). The Regional Arts Development Fund is a Queensland Government initiative through Arts Queensland, Ipswich City Council partnership to support local arts and culture.
Photography by LeAnne Vincent