Lured to the surface : exegesis

By exploring that vigorous littoral edge, via memory, I understand how the rhythms and energies of the waves of heat, of wind, of the ocean and of desire, shape the forms of my oeuvre - my drawings, objects and furniture. An interpretation of the ambient, metaphoric, and sociological phenomenon of a lifetime experiencing the Western Australian coastline is drawn on to develop a body of designs that respond to this context. The regional emphasis is supported by research of the artists John Wolesley and John Olsen, and of the architects Alvar Aalto, Jørn Utzon and Carlo Scarpa. Historic comparisons of the fin de siècle with current perceptions are also made by examining attitudes of sexuality, passivity and vitality. Focusing on the philosophy and lifestyle of our beach and surfing culture demonstrates how the trait of informality may be translated into tangible form, and how rhythms of energy may be contrasted with an expression of the contemplative. A series of impressions evolve which inform the thesis, the tangible body of work.