Comments and appraisals:"This artwork makes me think about all of the rubbish I saw at the beach on the weekend. At least this artist is reusing and recycling and creating something nice to look at out of stuff that gets chucked away," Maxwell, 12.
Dahlsen has started to take the risk of mixing his colors. One would never suspect there could be anything “romantic” about a stratified miscellany of nylon ropes, plastic garbage bags and fish nets, but it is hard to avoid the impression that its undulations evoke a deep blue ocean and the tangled ropes are a little like stormtossed clouds. Dahlsen likes to group his finds in categories and ask himself what it means that our age works in plastic, as opposed to stone, bronze or iron. Dahlsen, in other words, has become an artful archaeologist," John T. Spike (Director of the Florence International Biennial of Contemporary Art). Comments and appraisals:"The texture of the water creates movement and draws the eye towards the smoking stacks; which stand out as a focal point. The bright, complimentary tones of blue and orange highlight the juxtaposition between nature and industry," Paula McDonald.
Comments and appraisals:"I can't believe that this is a photo! It looks like a painting done with oil paint, or maybe even a collage...It makes me want to reach out and touch it!" Ann, 13.
"J. Henry Fair's spectacular aerial images show the damage caused by industrial pollution, but they also capture the striking vivid colours created by toxic waste. His pictures look like abstract expressionist paintings," The Telegraph. Comments and appraisals:"I really love this painting, I particulary love the way the artist has collaged newsarticles and applied a wash of yellow, red and orange to create a sunset effect. I also love how the artist has used a number of different painting techniques. I hope we learn some of these painting techniques".
Oliver, 11 Comments and appraisals:"The confined space of this installation piece conveys a sense of claustrophobia and provides a multi-sensory example of pollution," Josh Kearney.
"Like much of Mr. Gaines's art, ''Greenhouse'' is visually clean, intellectually complex and about big things," Holland Cotter. "Charles Gaines probes larger-than-life phenomena to explore the nature of human truth and understanding," Sharon Mizota Comments and appraisals:"Zhang's adaptations of these classics use similar brushstrokes, but
the rivers show the effects of industrial pollution and agricultural diversion: some have turned bright green or are covered with a sheen of chemicals, others have dried up entirely," Christina Larson, Foriegn Policy Magazine. Comments and appraisals:"I lyke the sea monstas wiggely, wobbely [sic] arms!" Jack, Grade One.
"The combination of black and grey tones sees the sea creatures almost blend into the rest of the scene.This camouflages their identity and creates a sense of mystery; prompting one to ask ‘what are they?’ The curved lines repeated in each of the tentacles, provide a sense of movement and breathe life into the creatures. Likewise, the variations in the length, size and tone of the lines through the sky and water create a rough texture which conveys a sense of urgency," anon. Comments and appraisals:"Oh, wow! This is a really scary painting, look at the fumes and smoke going into the atmosphere, casueing air pollution. I feel sad when I see this painting". Ben, Grade 2
Comments and appraisals:"An ambitious installation which combines elements of scientific research, painstaking documentation and visual dialogue representing a conceptual form of environmental outreach," anon.
Comments and appraisals:
"The subtle evidence of water pollution (6-legged frog, lesions on the child's face) go unnoticed at first glance; overshadowed by the harmonious colour palette, the calm mood conveyed by the predominance of green and the focal point of the yellow jacket," Paula.
"This picture really makes me wonder...What is wrong with the little girl's face? Why does the frog have too many legs? What is wrong with the water? The green looks pretty until you realise it has made everything sick," Brandi, Year 7. |
Title: Ocean and Earth
Artist: John Dahlsen Description: Environmental art wall work, made from found plastic objects, assembled behind perspex. Semi-abstract/Landscape, recycled art created from plastics collected from Australian beaches. Size: 90 cm x 60 cm ea. (Triptych). Artist statement: I see that by making this art, it has been a way of sharing my messages for the need to care for our environment with a broad audience. I feel that even if just a fraction of the viewing audience were to experience a shift in their awareness and consciousness about the environment and art, through being exposed to this artwork then it would be worth it. Title: Between nature and industry 1987 Artist: Mandy Martin Description: Oil on canvas Size: 76cm X 175cm Title: Combustion waste at electricity generation station. Artist: J Henry Fair Description: Aerial photograph Artist statement: My work is a response to my vision of society. I see our culture as being addicted to petroleum and the unsustainable consumption of other natural resources, which seems to portend a future of scarcity. Title: There's something in the air. Artist: Josh Kearney Description: Mixed media. Acrylic on canvas/collage. Artist Statement: Having lived in Queensland’s largest industrial port for the last ten years there has been a growing concern with the quality of the air, due to the large amount of industrial growth. I would class myself as an environmentalist and believe that we should be protecting the environment and our own health. In creating my art piece I wanted to portray the message that industry and industrial growth is the largest cause of air pollution in the world. Title: Greenhouse Artist: Charles Gaines Description: Installation - smog-conscious microcosm of the city of Los Angeles. A computer-controlled system of multicolored lights shines down on a satellite photo of the L.A. basin; each color represents a different airborne pollutant. If regional air pollution levels are low, the lights get brighter; if levels increase, they grow dim. Every 15 minutes, the computer receives data from a website that records local air quality and the structure fills with fog, diffusing the lights in a cloud of haze. Title: "Adaptations" Artist: Ma Yuan/Zhang Hongtu Description: Original 12th-century paintings by Ma Yuan (left) and Zhang Hongtu's contemporary reworkings (right) to show the effects of agricultural pollution (top) and dams (bottom). Artist statement: I wanted to keep some of original line work, but show the change ... the pollution of water, and the shortage of water. Title: Portum Horroribus Artist: Paula McDonald Description: Lino-cut print. Print 5 of 5. Size: 32cm X 25cm Artist statement:The concept behind Portum Horroribus (Harbour of Horrors) stems from my feelings of uncertainty surrounding the current degradation of Gladstone’s waterways. While various research bodies have presented inconclusive evidence, nationwide media reports suggest that industry is negatively impacting on the health of Gladstone Harbour. Research revealed photographic examples of dead and diseased animal life which had been retrieved from the harbour; including dugongs, dolphins, barramundi and green turtles. These specimens led me to believe that there is something terribly wrong with the harbour…something that no one seems to have a definitive explanation for. I began to consider possible outcomes for Gladstone’s environment; mutated sea creatures; nature in remission; environmental disaster. Title: Industrial pollution Artist: Neale Osborne Title: The Ever-changing Tide Artist: Brandon Ballengee Description: Mixed media installation; including over 400 preserved specimens (representative of over 260 species) and 76 iris prints. The project involved the collection, identification, and documentation of numerous species of aquatic organisms available for consumption at various Flushing seafood markets. Artist statement: My work attempts to blur the already ambiguous boundaries between environmental art and ecological research. Title: Toxic Waters Artist: Boris Pelcer Description: Mix Media on Illustration Board. Size: 8 x 10 in. Artist statement: As a method of providing some thought provoking ideas and encourage the efforts in creating solutions, I used my refugee experience of living a simpler life, as a scenario of what life might be like for our children and grandchildren if economies collapsed, due to the our inability to efficiently utilize the natural resources. |