Waters of Life (2022)
Dye sublimated photographs on aluminium circles and waterproof fabric attached to a dry concrete fountain
Waters of Life commemorates the ongoing need for climate justice and water sustainability as access to fresh water is the most basic of human and non-human rights. In places like the Murray Darling basin, First Nations people and others are mourning the loss of their river, experiencing massive fish kills and unsafe drinking water because of water mismanagement by authorities. Here in Greater Sydney underground coal mines have cracked and drained rivers, also causing fish kills and contaminating drinking water catchments. In Waters of Life, images of water are placed as memorials onto a dry concrete fountain at the entrance to the Rookwood cemetery office.
About the Artist
Bernadette Smith lives on Gadigal Wangal Country in Sydney’s Inner West. She works with photomedia and installation to explore water sustainability and the non-human world. In 2020 Bernadette’s work was featured in the 10th Canberra Festival of Art and she has been a finalist for the Mosman Art Prize, Fishers Ghost Art Award, Eden Unearthed, Sunstudio Emerging Photographers Prize and SCA Showcase at Verge Gallery, University of Sydney. Bernadette has exhibited at Maitland Regional Art Gallery, Perth Centre for Photography, Newcastle Art Gallery, the State Library of NSW and most recently was selected for a Bundanon artist residency.
www.bernadettesmithart.blogspot.com.au
The artist would like to thank Simplicity Funerals for their support and assistance with this project.
Transcription
My name is Bernadette Smith and I'm an artist living on Gadigal land. I photographed water in coastal and inland environments, observing how water interacts with light.
My goal is to highlight intrinsic qualities of water and encourage a greater appreciation of our most precious resource. The title of my artwork is called waters of life. It shows photographs of water in various forms, such as morning dew, rain drops and an ocean wave, printed onto metal circles and fabric.
These elements, surrounding a dry fountain at the entrance to Rookwood office, can help raise awareness of the water cycle and commemorate the ongoing need for climate justice. The images surrounding the base of the Fountain have been placed as memorials to the millions of fish dying due to mismanagement by authorities in places like the Murray Darling basin.
Here, First Nations people and others are mourning the frequent loss of their river, which has brought massive fish kills and unsafe drinking water in its wake. The circular photographs of water droplets are like the portraits of loved ones mounted on gravestones throughout Rookwood. Cemetery.
This resonates with HIDDEN themes such as remembrance, love and mourning. In cities we often take water for granted, so I hope my art installation will make viewers more aware of the need for water sustainability before it's too late.