THE COLOURS OF DEEP TIME
$3,220
Living at the foot hill of the East Macdonell ranges in central Australia I am inspired by the natural landscapes that surround me. They offer a generous connection with the earliest formations on earth. In my work, I delve into the interplay between those times and the present.
I recover aluminium mesh used in domestic and commercial settings that have reached the end of their intended purpose. Carefully chosen pieces are selected of this widely used raw material to be revitalized with acrylic paint, then through a slow mediative process of bending, folding, cutting and rejoining I transform the material.
The process of bending and folding is reminiscent of those that have played out over millennia in these ranges; while cutting and rejoining with staples is emblematic of those that are specifically done by only humans, bringing together methods that are symbolic of the old and the new.
Extending the longevity of industrial remnants by using them to depict abstract ancient geological rock scapes, I explore sustainability concerns in our current state in the environment that have been growing since the industrial revolution.
The use of staples as a utilitarian material of the modern world is metaphor for crossroads of the industrial revolution. Before this time, the laborious process of hand sewing was used to fasten papers and documents. The invention of the stapler during this period revolutionised binding, vastly increasing the speed of many tasks and symbolising the rapid changes brought about by industrialisation. Since then, societal structures have evolved at an exponential rate.
These materials and processes embody the intersection of geological deep time, the Industrial Revolution and colonisation, highlighting how these forces shape our present.
Most days I am walking my dog up in the hill of the ranges in my neighbouring property. Scrambling up and over crumbling granite and sandstone shaped over deep time, display rich reds and ochres that are contrasted and accentuated by the black cracks of the eroding MacDonnell Ranges. These stark fissures highlight the atrophied state of the landscape, creating a dramatic interplay between vibrant hues and the dark lines that mark the passage of millennia.
Acrylic on aluminium mesh and wire
148 x 135cm
Artist Statement: J9 Stanton trained in Melbourne at RMIT and Victorian College of the Arts in both painting and sculpture in the late 80’s.
After traveling Australia, for a few years she settled in Mbantua (Alice Springs) on Arrernte country in 2002.
Since living in central Australia J9 has been a recipient of various grants from different Northern Territory funding bodies, and many awards in the region. She has also been commissioned by her local council and other organisations for many public art sculpture installations. She has recently been selected for the Flinders Lane Gallery emerging artists exhibition. She has been a finalist in the Alice prize multiple times and had her work acquired by both Araluan Cultural Centre, and Deakin University.
Since 2004, J9 has been working part time with the Yarranty Arltere artists at Larapinta Valley, introducing them to textile and fibre art. She has been integral in the development of their niche practice of soft sculpture that has matured into a sustainable social enterprise for members of that community.
J9 continues developing her own work while maintaining her investment in the success of local Aboriginal artists.
Her current work explores a merging of 2d and 3d practices. Investigating her long held affinity to painted textiles and passion for creating environmentally sustainable art, the use of up-cycled materials such as locally collected aluminium mesh forms an integral part of her practice.
Contact Tactile Arts on 08 8981 6616 or admin@tactilearts.org.au to purchase.
