Have just finished setting up my submission for the exhibition… it is an exploration of language, and how it relates to culture, identity, history, place and people.
Design process
Languages create connections between people, culture, history, place and country. They can segment as easily as they can unify, and give form to different ways of thinking; helping to define different cultural groups. Language is a record of our history, and gives us direction for our future.
Language and culture are intrinsically linked, and without one or the other language is extinguished and culture is lost.
Australia has the highest rate of language loss in the world. It is estimated that pre-settlement there were approximately 250 indigenous languages, plus a further 250 dialects. Today there are just 17 languages that are alive and spoken.
In recent years there has been a positive movement for language revitalisation, and towards a bilingual approach to education. Language revitalisation is a crucial part of reconciliation. Language bridges understanding.
Each print is a limited edition screen print available for sale, and profits will be donated to the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages to support their work in reclaiming and revitalizing indigenous languages.
OBSERVATION #1
(VIA OPTICAL ILLUSION)
Screen print and spirit rub on paper, viewing lenses.
Limited edition of 5. 50 × 64cm
Blue and red lenses are supplied with this optical illusion print. The audience interacts with it by viewing it through one lense at a time to reveal the words ‘history’ and ‘future’
OBSERVATION #2(VIA OPTICAL ILLUSIONS)
Screen print and spirit rub on paper, viewing lenses.
Monoprint. 50 × 64cm
A lightbox can be switched on or off to reveal the current status of indigenous language. Blue and red lenses are supplied with this optical illusion print. The audience interacts with it by viewing it through one lense at a time to reveal the words ‘language unifies’ and ‘language segments’
OBSERVATION #3
(VIA OPTICAL ILLUSION)
Screen print on paper.
Limited edition of 5. 50 × 32cm
A lightbox can be switched on or off to reveal ‘culture is lost in translation’.
OBSERVATION #4
(VIA FROTTAGE ASSEMBLY)
Vinyl on acrylic. 42 × 42cm
The audience interacts with this object by lining the paper up with the grid, and taking a rubbing (with coloured pencils provided). By working along each square – the message is revealed “language is a cultural treasure”.
Visit the exhibition at Pin-up in Collingwood this weekend, or contact us for enquiries about prints…
t has been a long while since I last blogged, and just as long since I attempted to document the process of a project. And in that time the project has just now come to completion – literally have just packed the car, and setting up the exhibition tomorrow. So I have no choice but to be totally honest – I have managed to fail completely at trying to document the intricacies of the design process! I guess I decided that I wanted to spend my time on actually designing, rather than writing about it, because really in its essence – the whole point of the process of design is what you learn through the process, how you turn that into a reality, and that hopefully the outcome contributes something worthwhile into the world.