Thresholds: a silent chorus (Ficus macrophylla)
A performative drawing by Julia Davis and Lisa Jones
9-14 January at DRAW Space
Live drawing through the window on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 7pm
Open to the public on Saturday and Sunday 12-5pm
Known for their collaborative explorations of human connection to the environment, Davis & Jones further their ongoing explorative project, Thresholds, which delves into the intricate relationship between people and the spaces they inhabit.
Thresholds scrutinises our relationship to the biospheric and subterranean landscapes of urban sites, reflecting upon transience and embodiment of place. Expressed through drawing and video, the project delves into the fleeting nature of human existence, and how the marks of human endeavour intertwine with the geological tapestry of time.
At DRAW Space, the artists showcase collaborative drawings - large-scale works crafted on the floor over four evenings. This process is an extension of the artist's ongoing research into working within darkened spaces, a theme central to their exploration.
Utilising the significant Moreton Bay fig (Ficus macrophylla) located nearby at St. Stephen's Anglican Church and Cemetery, Camperdown, Davis & Jones employ charcoal and whittled shavings to create frottages. This tree has acted as silent witness to the built environment and those passing through it for over 175 years.
The large drawings are intentionally generated at night, where the interplay of darkness blurs the boundaries between unconscious and conscious modes of working.
The artists invite the viewer to reflect upon the way trees play an integral part within the dynamic process of how we see ourselves in relation to place – our past as well as our future.
