Thresholds: a silent chorus (Ficus macrophylla)

A collaborative performance by Lisa Jones and Julia Davis.

Our collaborative practice explores human connection to environment and delves into the intricate relationship between people and the spaces they inhabit.

Thresholds is an ongoing project that scrutinizes our connection to the biospheric and subterranean landscapes of urban sites, contemplating transience and the embodiment of place. Through the mediums of drawing and video, our project delves into the ephemeral nature of human existence, exploring how the marks of human endeavours intertwine with the geological tapestry of time.

The site-specific drawings we created at DRAW Space take inspiration from the significant Moreton Bay fig (Ficus macrophylla) within the nearby grounds of St. Stephen's Anglican Church and Cemetery, Camperdown. Charcoal was created from fallen branches and the whittled shavings from these branches were used to craft frottages and an installation within the gallery space. The fig tree, a silent witness to the built environment for over 175 years, added a historical and environmental layer to our artwork.

At DRAW Space, our large-scale collaborative drawings were created on the floor over four evenings where the interplay of darkness blurred the boundaries between unconscious and conscious modes of working. The gallery's large shop front window embraced the performative aspect and transformed a private creative act into a public spectacle allowing the audience to witness the creative act of drawing in real time.

The residency extended our ongoing research into working within darkened spaces, a theme central to our exploration. Equally it allowed time for us to reflect on the integral role trees play in our dynamic relationship with place.

For more information, visit the artist’s website.