Conversations with the Collection

Fiona Hall & Romina Lyn You Lee

FIONA HALL

In Fiona Hall’s Drift net 1998 a two-tiered glass display cabinet contains three solitary objects; on the top shelf a bough of bleached coral is intricately crafted from glass beads and mother of pearl buttons, a glass bottle is engraved with the names of seaweeds and ships’ knots and on the bottom shelf, serpentine plumbing conduit, perforated beyond use, holds a compass at its end. These three objects lie stranded within the cabinet as dubious trophies of progress. Drift net is a contemporary critique of environmental devastation. The work continues Hall’s fascination with natural history and colonisation as a gigantic trans-continental drift net that catches everything in its wake.

ROMINA LYN YOU LEE
Abbotsleigh Wahroonga
The Great Bleached Reef (detail) (2010)
Sculpture

The Great Bleached Reef emulates the skeletal forms of dead coral, that are a result of coral bleaching. Coral bleaching occurs when the coral polyp dies, draining the coral of its colour and leaving the white calcium carbonate structure exposed. My sculptures draw attention to this serious environmental concern which threatens Australia’s most remarkable natural wonder, the Great Barrier Reef. I have used a range of materials to create the artwork such as bubble wrap, Styrofoam and doilies, and my intention is to delight and surprise the viewer by transforming refuse into beautiful works of art.

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