A Study: Different Ways of Being
Temporary Art Project Commissioned for the official opening of Kangaroo Point Park.
Photos: Rod Buchholz and The Artist
The Artist working in the garden is not a new construct but it is a relatively new academic subject. Garden designs, rather than its meaning tends to be the emphasis however with this project it has been a meeting of the two.
The belief that a garden can dispel anxiety and place the visitor in a state of tranquility is really a myth. In actual fact gardens are ideological and full of political interests and cultural constructs that must be seen in their broader contexts e.g. gardeners wanting to only plant natives.
So let’s not forget why this park was created.
“A study: of different ways of being” brings together “Afforest” and the “The Green Room”. This formed a point of departure, from planting the trees to the advocacy of re-foresting a site, to innovative solutions to shade, seating and the heightening of our senses.
“Afforest” on its own was very difficult to conceive and psychological very challenging. As with all commemorative works one has to consider so many elements and in this case remember than beneath this park it was once wilderness. Acknowledging the traditional owners of this land was first and foremost hence the selection and planting of the tree species.
Being a public garden “PLAY” was also very important as it investigates movement, progress and future trajectories of public places and spaces. Unlike a medieval garden it contrasts starkly with their ideal of enclosure, isolation and meditation.
The temporary works “A study: of different ways of being” strongly supports the dialogue between outside and inside and between place and space creating a physical environment of leisure.
Three sensory elements form the basis of this work:
- OLFACTORY: is found within ‘The Green Room’ and as the participants move through this space to take their position to watch the daily matinee, or night time screening of the city. The viewer will release the intriguing and lush scents of the plants/herbs released through their passage.
The calming and sweet smells of lavender and chamomile laid over the pathways so as people walked over them they emitted fragrances to remember the experience by and leaving the smell as reminiscent and a long lasting reminder of our history. Based on the quote of Mark Twain:
“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”
- TOUCH: is found also within ‘The Green Room’ and participants can take their positions under the purple flowering petals of randomly placed umbrellas for protection from the elements and the creation of smaller intimate zones within a public area. Also a number of purple parasols will be distributed during the day for viewers to use and engage with the site.
To have umbrellas is very Queensland with our beach culture and outdoors lifestyle. As Kevin Wilson reminds us regards the work and the title ‘The Green Room’
“not only refers to the chill out space in a theatre but also to the term used by surfers to describe being inside the barrel of a wave and this beach culture reference is even further accentuated by the…..purple umbrellas to be sited on the wave like contour mounds. From above this work looks like a ripple in the land in flower and it reminds us that even the smallest idea or action sends a ripple out into the world and 150 years ago our independence from NSW resonated and grew to allow us to be a strong and independent state.”
- SIGHT and SOUND: is found on the entry nodes of ‘Afforest’, to temporarily bring attention to the future planting of the beautifully espaliered and shaped trees. 6 large inflatable ‘ghost’ trees will be created and positioned where these trees will eventually be sited.
6 large dancing inflatable wind tubes will be created from ‘white’ sail cloth to take their positions as ghostly reminders of the trees that once were and again will be as the planting matures and the shaped and woven trees are installed. On the day these ‘works’ will tower over the existing tree line and indicate the size these mature trees will eventually achieve. While being the spectacle and visual draw card from the city to the park on this memorable day.
