Artist with axes

: the making of a resource as a contemporary environmental aesthetic

Abstract

This exegesis uses the metaphoric portrait of “artists with axes” to depict the artist as both creator and destroyer. As such, my position as an artist is established as residing between and within these societal binary opposites. Using the philosophical trajectory of Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, I have established a practice which embraces the making process as an event and ongoing resource. This resourcing responds to multiplicity of envisioned Natures and a learning trajectory which includes materials found; materials produced, and an events based practice ‘(n)onsite’, in studio or gallery.

Making a resource as a contemporary environmental aesthetic includes the ecological phenomenon of waste and the relational activity of recycling, the integration of past or present artistic production, and acts of graffiti which mimic or acknowledge processual concepts of environment. I directly respond to ecological thoughts about our environment within my local context, identifying my materials as a milieu relational to environmental conditions and responsive to change.

Focus is given to my learning trajectory of paper/pulp. Using the materiality of paper I am able to explore the interface between the creation/destruction binaries, resulting in metaphoric dissolution or flow as each event dictates. As a resource paper is destined to be recycled but also has an association with its original organic properties which equally identifies it with environmental damage. For me, the physicality of paper combines with environmental conditions to express a direct connection with Nature.

Throughout this candidature I have focused on several projects which I will discuss within this exegesis. These include: Names on Trees (NOT Project); an ongoing intervention with taggers of Eucalyptus trees at the Jingili Watergardens of Darwin, Temporary Fence Hire (TFH) an ongoing project using the common temporary fence to consider change within the environment. And be careful
how you develop an installation at the Wesleyan Church, George Brown Botanic Gardens. In addition to these events I refer to my past projects such as Helen’s Wreath and LOW to emphasise the processual context past events have with future project.

Date of Award	Jun 2011
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Charles Darwin University (CDU)
Supervisor	Carole Wilson (Supervisor)