Headspace/Snowspace
Melanie Fitzmaurice, 2011
Upon arriving in Finland I was intrigued to
discover the contrast between Haukivuori’s intimate, intense and
entirely white landscape, compared to the distant horizon of the dry and
familiar surroundings of my home in rural Victoria, Australia.
Having rarely seen snow settle on the ground in Australia, let alone
accumulate, I was overwhelmed by the density of the white-coated
surfaces. I am captivated by the way snow creates a ‘visual padding’ for
the landscape, disguising forms and reflecting light, often creating a
brilliant glare that can distort the way that the immediate environment
is perceived.
During my time at SAKSALA ArtRadius I have investigated new felting
processes and produced crocheted, machine-felted sculptures. I am
fascinated by the potential of this process when applied to these more
complex, three-dimensional forms.
Headspace/Snowspace comprises three new sculptures that are unified by a
predominantly white surface, mimicking the snow-covered environment. My
conceptual focus for this residency has been
History/Geography/Psychology, where each of the artworks exhibited
reflects on one of these words. These sculptures draw on influences
taken from my life in Australia, including personal memories and family
photographs, combined with influences gained in Finland such as newly
discovered felting processes and the physical nature of snow.
To contact Melanie or to see more of her sculptures please visit
www.melaniefitzmaurice.com
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