Calling Home

Drawings from the Subantarctic

Soundscape by Andy Wilson

The Vault, Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery, 2017

Calling Home celebrated the awe and wonder of standing on the shores of wild Southern Ocean islands, surrounded by tens of thousands of creatures, through drawing, printmaking and the power of music and sound.

An evocative soundscape, by composer Andy Wilson, transported visitors to those remote and windblown beaches using tonal musical textures overlaid with the everyday chatter of wildlife and the powerful surge of Subantarctic weather systems.

Representational artworks interplayed with abstracted pieces, celebrating the practice of drawing following an expedition into the Southern Ocean in late 2013. The installation highlighted the phenomenon of seeing of wildlife en masse as an increasingly rare experience.

Traditionally a landscape painter and colourist, Adrienne put aside oil paints and colour throughout 2017 to draw with charcoal and ink, exploring the idea that every bird, every day made its awkward journey back and forth to the sea and, in that moment, their survival depended entirely on being able to call to their family when they returned with food. Standing on the edge of just some of the many 40,000 strong penguin rookeries, she was overwhelmed by a cacophony of sound; of birds calling home, and home calling birds.

This installation was supported by public talks and tours, children’s and adult workshops, and Gallery Shop merchandise by Adrienne and other local artists.

Photography by David Graham and Adrienne Williams

Enquire with Adrienne about available works :-D