Island residency inspires exhibition

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Tags: centenary-edition, Heron Island Research Station, UQ Art Museum

Judy Watson

A new form of scientific collaboration was unveiled at UQ when Indigenous artist Judy Watson exhibited her latest works in October.

Ms Watson was artist-in-residence at the Heron Island Research Station in February 2009, her visit coinciding with the official reopening of the facility, which was destroyed by fire in 2007.

Staged at the UQ Art Museum, Judy Watson: Heron Island explored findings made by scientists the artist met during the residency and featured graphs about ocean acidification, changes to sea-surface temperature, El Niño weather patterns and global warming.

“Watson turned her attention to what scientists are saying is happening in the marine environment, with works ranging from an extraordinary ‘freshwater lens’ – a large blue-green brass sculpture suspended in the gallery space – to a series of brilliantly coloured etchings, paintings, works on paper, video and a sound work,” museum Director Nick Mitzevich said.

Heron Island number 13

The exhibition built on previous projects, particularly the Indigenous use of native plants, but also the idea of a subterranean water source.

“I was fascinated by the idea of a lens-shaped body of fresh water that lies beneath the coral cay above the salt water, the fresh water helping to sustain the plant life and the island ecology,” Ms Watson said.

“The freshwater lens is an amazing resource, whose purity is threatened by rising sea levels and storm surges, so even though it’s something you can’t actually see, I decided it would be the perfect floating sculptural form.”

Story by Michele Helmrich, video courtesy Judy Watson and Maria Barbagallo

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