ARTIST STATEMENT
As part of the UTAS Inveresk Rivers Edge development we were approached by Aspect Studios and JWA Architects to assist with the design and development of three garden features for the Riawunna Garden landscaping. Our brief was to work with the appointed Riawunna Artists – Lynne Spotswood (Aboriginal Elder) and Genie Battese (Emerging Artist) to assist with the development of their concepts and prepare them for construction and fabrication. The three artworks evolved through a series of artist workshops that were conducted at the UTAS Inveresk Campus in 2022 with Lynne and Genie. These artworks are the result of a strong collaborative approach to the design process whereby all parties involved have made considerable efforts to transform the concept sketches and ideas into the final works. Each piece has been fabricated in Tasmania with local artisans and installed in 2023.
01 Screening:
The laser cut screens have been developed and designed by Lynne and Genie as a visual platform for story telling. They symbolise connection to country, hunting and gathering and ancestral ties that stretch back thousands of years. The drawings for these screens were created at a series of workshops and have been carefully designed & refined by the artists to translate into a large scale laser cut piece that extends throughout the landscaping plan issued and designed by Aspect Studios.
02 Basket Inspired Seat:
This piece is inspired by the traditional basket weaving of the first nations people. Basket weaving played a significant cultural role amongst the nine nations of Tasmania. This seat will serve as a space for students, staff and the broader community to engage in a dialogue inspired by the cultural signifiers throughout the landscaping, participate in the long tradition of story telling or simply to enjoy a moment of contemplation and reflection.
03 Shade Structure:
This work is inspired again by basket weaving and is designed specifically for the performance area. The vision of a shade structure is to serve as a gathering space for community members to share stories and conduct basket weaving workshops through the year. There are nine circles representing the nine nations which have been designed to house the weavings. Through this ongoing artwork elders will pass down skills and continue the tradition for generations to come.
Location: Inveresk Campus
Client: University of Tasmania
Year: 2023
Artist(s): Lynne Spotswood and Genie Batesse (Aboriginal knowledge holders)
Produced by: Amanda Kay and Jerome Dobinson
Screening Dimensions: 30m wide x 2m high
Materials: Laser cut steel
Seating Dimensions: 3.8m wide x 1.2m deep x 2m high
Materials: Spotted Gum and Copper Wire
Shade Canopy Dimensions: 3m wide x 2m long x 3m high
Materials: Steel and Copper Wire
PROJECT DETAILS
STORY TELLING - RIVERS AND ANCESTORS
Lynne and Genie tell us a story in which their ancestors walked through the land before us, gathering and sharing food. The artwork features connection to country and their ancestry, with wind in the reeds and symbology tracing human activity. Petrogylphs and tracks, show how people moved along the river, through the landscape to the gathering spaces. Circles represent the many fires and dances, where food was cooked and stories told. Lynne talks of how the earth shows signs of ancient land use, hardened over centuries cultural practices fires and middens serve as signs of abundance, connection to country and ancestral links to the past.
