SCULPTURE BY THE SEA_Bondi 2016 Sydney Australia
“Nomadic Winds: a journey’s rest”
Sally Kidall 2016
Materials: timber, bronze insect mesh, furniture, household items, grass seed, soil, fabric, artificial grass, ropes, galvanised brackets
DESCRIPTION
This site-specific ephemeral environmental installation consisted of 5 timber-framed structures enclosed within heavy duty insect screen walls. They were secured to the sloping site to appear as if they were tumbling down the hill. Within each structure a simple domestic scene of chair with table and a standing light sprouting wheat grass during its display from various surfaces. The growing components were challenged by gravity and climate making their growth outcome inconclusive; this is key to the work’s concept.
CONCEPT
A community of tumbling structures reminiscent to building blocks are securely anchored to their exposed site as if blown like tumbleweeds across an isolated desert. These structures are suggestive of habitable temporary spaces enclosed within their transparent walls evoking notions of vulnerability and insecurity. Through continuing my research into contemporary interpretation of a commemorative monument this work explores displacement narratives, transience and nomadism, and is informed by issues relating to consumption and materialism, while in contrast the growing elements suggest resilience and adaptability.
PERFORMANCE: Elyssa Sykes-Smith
During my conversation with artist/performer Elyssa Sykes-Smith about development this piece into a performative space/site, she offered to occupy and interact within one of the structure for a couple of hours at the end of the show. It brought the work alive and intrigued many visitors. Elyssa made this statement about her performance:
“I took an intuitive approach for the performance. My aim was to get a sense of the space within the sculpture and lose myself within the textures, forms and negative space. Discovering the architectural interior with my body was a delight, my eyes remained closed for most of the time and I was consciously aware that I was using all of my senses to navigate and measure the space, testing it’s structural limits. I gradually became more absorbed with the performance and felt like I was completely washed over with a sense of calm, as if in a paused moment amongst the chaos of my external life”
Sally Kidall 