Matter Matters echoes the roots of ancient mangrove colonies commonly found in the Sydney Harbour area, New South Wales and Queensland, and along other major Australian coastlines.
Mellor has recreated the ancient mangrove species into three bronze sculptures, each sitting as individual works, and dramatically scaled with the largest approaching 4-metres-tall. MCA visitors can walk in and around the roots, immersing themselves in these sculptures that reflect on the natural world.
"The MCA Sculpture Terrace Commission is a unique space for artists to develop new work,” said MCA Director, Elizabeth Ann Macgregor. “The background setting of the Sydney Harbour presents an intriguing site for Danie Mellor, whose works are often informed by his connection to place through Aboriginal heritage, and an ongoing preoccupation with Australia's country and landscape."
Mellor is well-known for large-scale drawings, mixed media sculptures, installations and photography that investigate colonial and post-colonial history. Born in Mackay in 1971, he is of Ngadjon and Mamu heritage. Mellor regularly exhibits in large public institutions across Australia and is one of the finalists for the 2019 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA).
On the new commission, Mellor commented: “Matter Matters is concerned with nature's breath, and how the mangrove tree and colony has a symbiotic relationship with an expanded coastline environment. The installation will explore how natural forms interact and interrelate with the built environment, with a piece such as this observing the impact of our presence in the world of nature, as mangrove colonies have been found to show early symptoms of ecological health or stress.”
The Loti Smorgon Sculpture Terrace Commission is named in honour of Mrs Loti Smorgon AO (1918–2013), who, together with her husband Victor Smorgon, donated 149 artworks to the MCA Collection. The creation of a sculpture terrace for the Museum realised a long-held desire by Mrs Smorgon to support Australian sculptural works.
Matter Matters is the fourth in a series of site-specific commissions for the outdoor sculpture terrace which overlooks one of the best views of Sydney Harbour. Past commissions include works by Caroline Rothwell (2016), Sangeeta Sandrasegar (2014) and Hany Armanious (2012).
Danie Mellor's Matter Matters is located on Level 4 of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in Sydney.
Website: mca.com.au/
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