Apertures

Apertures is the result of six months (and a lifetime) of work to bring the small gift of forest light in the form of video projection from Djiringanj Country, Bermagui, to Gadigal Country, Sydney. This video is brought as gift to Country as a memory of what was, reminding Country here in the Sydney CBD of what was and what still is in other places, reminding us that Country is always under us no matter where we are. Projection is chosen as the medium as it is light, ephemeral and only there for a short time, much as a memory surfaces and disappears but leaves us with a lingering of time, place and emotion.

The delivery of this gift happens through the creation of my Dreaming Wheel, a technique taught to me by the amazing Hala Francka. Through imagination, symbols, artefacts, archetypes, a lot of courage, and Spirit a sacred space is created to present this small gift to Country.

The sites are chosen as places where the city is thin. Where the architecture has failed and small aberrations are left. Places we don't see as we sit on the steps smoking or vaping and drinking a coffee as a break from the work happening in concrete towers. Cigarette butts and empty coffee cups are left here.

Here are a selection of photos from the two locations - Hosking Place and Cumberland Avenue. The tech, the work, the artefacts and the safety cones.

Apertures is the result of being selected as the regional artist for the 2024 Scene Shift Residency program, a collaborative initiative with Brand X (Sydney) and the Cad Factory (Narrandera). It had its first public showing in December 2024 as a part of the Brand X Artist-2-Artist series.

Thank you to Aesha, Charlotte, Ian, Fiona, Douglas, Jamie, Victoria and the Brand X team for saying yes to a thousand things including door knocking to secure permission from the building owners. They have gone beyond just facilitating to being wise counsel and support during my four weeks in residence at this creative heart in the centre of the CBD - The City of Sydney Creative Studios.

This project was made possible by @thecadfactoryofficial, @brandxinc and the Australian Government Regional Arts Fund, which supports the arts in regional and remote Australia. It has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body, and is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW, and the City of Sydney. The Scene Shift Residency is an initiative and partnership between Brand X (Sydney) and The Cad Factory (Narrandera) which is made possible by the Australian Government Regional Arts Fund.