Force of Nature 2018

FORCE OF NATURE

Seeking radical ways of engaging with nature through art, curator Gretel Taylor invited leading Australian performance and visual artists to respond to the theme ‘force of nature’, with an emphasis on participation and performance. Artists’ works related to the potency or influence of local environments on our lives and arts practices, referred to global environmental forces or climates, and responded to a situation of ‘post-nature’.

Force of Nature comprised an exhibition at Yarra Ranges Regional Museum and satellite events at local sites, September- October 2018.

Artists: Marnie Badham & Tammy Wong-Hulbert, Jill Orr, Peter Fraser, Myfanwy Hunter, Laki Sideris, Gulsen Ozer, Gretel Taylor, Gaby New, Melinda Smith & Tony Yap.

Force of Nature was proudly supported by Yarra Ranges Council.

Photo: Jill Orr, Antipodean Epic
Photographer Christina Simons (C) Jill Orr

The Force of Nature program included a grand opening featuring Welcome to Country by Ian Hunter, screening of Jill Orr's Antipodean Epic and live performances by Tony Yap, Melinda Smith and Myfanwy Hunter. Other events included Nature Dancing workshop led by Peter Fraser; and an art/nature forum, Picnic at the Lake, with guest scientific and Indigenous speakers, Environmental Performance Authority (EPA) performances and the artists in conversation.

Documentation of the opening: https://lakisiderisphotography.pixieset.com/forceofnature-opening/

Environmental Performance Authority (EPA), Heads in the Sand, for Picnic at the Lake, Lilydale 2018
Photos by Laki Sideris

I acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi wurrung and neighbouring Bunurong and Boon wurrung peoples of the eastern Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the unceded lands on which I live, work and dance. I pay deep respect to their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. I extend that respect to Traditional Owners of the many Countries on which I undertake my work and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. I pay deep respect to First Nations elders past and present, who have listened to Country and danced, sung and told stories in and about their places for millennia.