25.11.11 From Human Hands

Octababies

The course criteria for the ‘Advanced Diploma in Ceramics’ required work exhibiting integrated

animal and human characteristics.

Employing casting techniques I created an army of

25 creatures I call ‘Octababies’:

part octopus and part swaddled baby. 

The message I want to convey is that

human tentacles reach into, and exploit,

every part of this planet. There is not one

plant or animal on this planet that we

do not eat or utilise in some way.

My work expresses a personal opinion that

the world should come together and stipulate a

sustainable world population target.

Many people would disagree with what I consider

a logical viewpoint, as this idea infringes our human rights, but what of the rights of our planet and its non-human inhabitants? Our planet cannot provide

enough food and resources to sustain

the present human population in the level of

comfort currently enjoyed by Australians.

River Mussels

Earlier this year, I had dinner with a friend in Brisbane. She claimed the recent flood was “The flood we were never supposed to have”.

In an inquiry on April the 16th 2011, a number of SEQ Water engineers responsible for managing the discharge from Wivenhoe Dam were interviewed. The inquiry’s conclusions support my friends’ assertion. If water had been released from Wivenhoe Dam only 36 hours earlier many houses and businesses would have survived.

While exploring some of the flood damaged river systems at Twin Bridges down stream from Wivenhoe Dam, my son Liam found these large river mussels scoured from the deeper river channels. This is indicative of humanity’s ever-increasing hold over the natural environment: the necessity to retain water to support a growing and already unsustainable population. The death of these mussels is a small example of what happens to the environment when things go wrong. Homo sapiens must be the most ego-centric creature on earth: we only focus on the human cost, ignoring our life sustaining environment.

'River Mussels'

Thirty-six numbered mussels were created,

marking the time difference

between their death and their survival.

They will be exhibited on river sand.

Humans classify everything in their environment

using scientific nomenclature.

The numerical system is symbolic

of this classification system.

Internal Ecosystems

I like the idea of internal ecosystems. An ecosystem placed within a vessel. Internal spaces relate to the idea of an ecosystem’s inherent fragility.

Slip casting from a $1 op-shop bowl that closely resembled a fish bowl, provided a suitable interior.

Water-slide decals were created after a series of experiments with a Hewlett Packard printer

This cost effective process allows modified and individually computer designed black and white images to be transferred to ceramics with relative ease. Fired correctly, the image transfers that

result from the iron content of the printing ink are remarkably crisp and clear.

The success of this dialogue depends on the

images within the enclosed space which mirrors

the treatment of external environments.

The decal process will be further developed

to include decal application onto glass and glass slumping with the intention of creating

appealing translucent effects.

‘Fish Kill’ - Image taken at Lake Cargelligo

in central NSW during the drought in 2010,

by my father who is a photographer.

Opening speeches by Cynthia's father (left)

and Merriel Hume.