Resonant Flows
Two interlaced notions of fluidity weave through this collection of works: the watery cycles of rivers, rain and harbours, and the fluid dynamism of constantly evolving places. This understanding emerged as I responded to the contingent vitality of Middle Harbour, Lane Cove River and Parramatta River in Sydney, Australia, and observed their changes through winter, spring and summer in 2020, a year shaped by volatility. The drawings, sound and video installation articulate my body’s interaction with the atmospheric, sonic and social occurrences that enliven these places. These works explore the interdependent relationships that exist between our bodies, places and water, and draws attention to the meaningful connections that we create through our actions.
‘Fluvial Dynamics: Rain and Tidal Pools’ and ‘Fluvial Dynamics: Rain and Foraging Birds’ | Ink, water-soluble charcoal, rainwater, paper | 2020 | Dimensions Variable
‘Resonant Flows: Parramatta River, Lane Cove River, Middle Harbour’ | Three-channel video installation and Sound Feedback Drawing Composition | Video Duration: 5 mins, Sound Duration: 15 mins 47 secs.
Above: How to Measure the Body Against the Earth - 2020 Parramatta Artists’ Studio Exhibition | Curated Group Exhibition | Installation view at Ideas Platform, Artspace, Sydney, Australia.
Works left to right by artists Cindy Yuen-Zhe Chen, Sofiyah Ruqayah and Liam Benson. Photograph courtesy of Artspace and Parramatta Artists’ Studios.
Featuring ‘Fluvial Dynamics: Rain, Wind, People’ | Ink on Wenzhou paper | Dimensions variable, (approx. H125 x W145 x D80cm).
Right: Fluvial Dynamics and Resonant Flows featured in Air Water Love | Group Exhibition curated by Nicholas Tsoutas | China Cultural Centre, Sydney, Australia
Resonant Flows: Parramatta River, Lane Cove River, Middle Harbour is a three-channel video installation that articulates my experience of embodied listening and looking at Parramatta River, Lane Cove River and Middle Harbour. Originally created as a commission for STORYBOX Co. in Parramatta, I have expanded it to include three bodies of water that enliven places where I have lived and worked.
Right: Resonant Flows: Parramatta River, Lane Cove River, Middle Harbour - Video Stills
Resonant Flows: Sound Feedback Drawing articulates my gestural responses to the sounds of birds, traffic, construction and pedestrians which enliven the concrete materiality of the O’Connell Street overpass that spans Parramatta River. This work was extended to include sounds of birds, water and cicadas from Middle Harbour and Lane Cove River.
Sound Feedback Drawing processes involve bouncing ambient sounds from my surrounding environment off the surfaces of rocks or around the interior structures of buildings. I gesture with microphones placed on my wrists to ‘catch’ these reflected sounds and create feedback, playing with the timbre, frequency and volume as I do so.
Resonant frequencies of the Sound Feedback Drawing composition from Middle Harbour were used to vibrate water and ink, creating Sonic Ink Vibration Drawings which can be viewed below. This is an experimental technique that combines traditional Japanese ink marbling with acoustic technologies.
In conjunction with the exhibition ‘Resonant Flows’ at Art Space on The Concourse, a short documentary of my processes was produced by Willoughby City Council in 2020. Please visit their website here for details about the exhibition.