Stepping out
Bones of the past the art of today
Friday 4 July, 2008 8:00am
AS you walk into the Hawkesbury Regional Gallery's newest exhibition, Downstream, you are confronted by the sight of four skeleton photos attached to seatless chairs.
This is part Jenny Pollak's contribution to a joint exhibition with her sister Ana and David Collins.
"It started as a sculptural piece," she said.
"The bones in the photographs were made of ceramic, with a map of the river superimposed over it to connect the bones of indigenous people to the land.
"Each represents a person, the chair has become a skeleton and the words represent mother, father, daughter and son. They're a family unit."
Ana Pollak said the exhibition was based around the estuary of the Hawkesbury River.
"It's interpreted through the photographs and sculptures," she said.
"We've all been living in this part of the river, so the work we do is drawn to this area."
Ana said her drawings were from the changing practices of the oyster farming industry.
"The old practice of wooden stakes has been replaced by recycled plastic cylinders," she said.
"I record the old oyster farms, which are wonderful icons of this part of the river.
"As the tides come in and go out, you see the oyster farms getting revealed and then covered up. There's these beautiful skeletons of the old farms sticking out at low tide."
Mr Collins said his paintings were based on the water surface.
"Because we live on the island and travel between the island and the mainland, we're always travelling across the river," he said.
"So the paintings are from the perspective of the boat looking at the water movement and reflection, with light bouncing off the water."
Downstream will be shown at the Hawkesbury Regional Gallery until July 27.
Entry is free and the gallery is open between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday except Tuesdays and 10am to 3pm weekends.
