Kelly Slater
Exhibition Dates: 25 August – 30 September 2018
Through my time spent exploring Mersey Bluff, I have begun to understand how inevitable it is that humans mark the landscapes they inhabit.
Shallow or deep, the imprint of human activity can be seen across the surfaces of Mersey Bluff. Permanent or ephemeral, the marks, structures and spaces that have developed, reflect how strongly people have been drawn to this Place.
Each person will make their own connections to a place, influenced by the things that they see, hear and experience, and the things they remember and imagine. Every time I go to Mersey Bluff my experience is different, the landscape and the sense of place is always changing. Sometimes I feel content and curious about the things that I see and experience – other times I have been distressed and sad.
I hope people will view these images and consider the legacy of the marks we as a community leave on this Place and how they will be experienced by generations to come.
We belong to this earth. We leave our experiences in the land; it is the layers of experiences – both natural and constructed, which create places.
– Kelly Slater
The Artist would like to acknowledge the support of Six Rivers Aboriginal Corporation Board and Community members, Bass Strait Maritime Centre Volunteers and Staff and Ellie Ray, who have all given me their support and time as I explored Mersey Bluff and developed this body of Work.
