The following series of sculptural pieces and ephemeral artworks responds to the history and cultural practices of Norfolk Island and it's people. Each piece is a reflection on the stories of Norfolk Island, it's history of migration, cultural change, the connection to the ocean, and the cultural practices such as traditional fishing and harvesting from the ocean, weaving practices.
The final piece here is a wreath which was photographed as part of an ephemeral art piece, where the wreath was photographed in siginficant places across Kingston.
Wreaths are something that we have always made in my family at Christmas time. It is an advent tradition in Germany to make a wreath with four candles. I have made wreaths since my childhood, but they are becoming wilder and less traditional as I get older. The idea for this wreath developed from the previous exercise about materiality, and the final resolution of that project. I wanted to integrate many different plant materials significant to me, to Norfolk island, and to the place I live.
The wreath is made of two different types of palm frond, 3 types of banana bark, 2 types of pandanus, flax, grape vine and bark, and includes plaited sections of pandanus banded around it.
The grape vine is significant, as there are old grape vines around the historic houses in Kingston, including government house, the banana bark significant as there are banana’s in many gardens on the island, including in Kingston, the palm fronds are used traditionally in Polynesian and pacific cultures, as is the Pandanus and flax.
In some way this project is to Commemorate journeys, and achievements, culture, ritual and tradition, history, celebrating beauty, before it is cast out to sea, as an offering, as a farewell, and as a thankyou to an island that had a significant influence on me.
