Artists draw focus to the looming horror of climate change
By LAUREN MITCHELL
Climate change has long been the domain of scientists but a group of artists currently exhibiting in Bendigo feel a similar responsibility to address the issue. The exhibition, Wet & Dry 008, encompasses the work of six artists who’ve all lived through the effects the drought has had on regional Victoria. Exhibiting artist Colin Suggett said the group came up with the idea several years ago, after sharing their concerns about climate change. “We’ve all lived in regional areas and have a feel for what’s happening to the landscape of those areas,” he said. Colin’s piece, Sand Trap is a visual, somewhat tounge-in-cheek representation of drought. “It is a mechanical piece with an old bush style tap sticking out of a landscape of sand with sand coming out of the tap instead of water,” he said. “There’s two-dimensional and three-dimensional works, sculpture, paintings, drawings and digital prints.” Colin, of Venus Bay in Gippsland, was in Bendigo last week to launch the exhibition. He said he hoped the art works would get people thinking about climate change and the future of the region. “Art is better at asking questions than answering them,” he said. “We don’t feel like there’s anything in this show that has solutions ... it’s more to create a point of discussion, to solidify in people’s mind the image of drought.” And contrary to what you may think, that image represented in the exhibition is not all melancholy. “I’d say it’s more wry in a sense ... we’re almost seeing the humour in our dilemma, and there’s a wry optimism with what’s happening.” Wet & Dry 008 is on at the La Trobe University Visual Arts Centre in View Street, from now until June 1. The gallery is open from Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm.
