Perspective is a particular way to see and consider something. In the prologue of Ian McCalman’s text, The Reef – A Passionate History, he writes about the experience and understanding of the Great Barrier Reef being different for each individual. By comparing Captain Cook’s early experience, the stories of his three Aboriginal friends and his own visits and explorations,the Reef holds a reputation that it “so extensive that no human mind can take it in”. The idea and expectation of the Reef was constructed upon multiple (sometimes juxtaposing) opinions such as “an intricate maze”, a “coral ‘labyrinth’” and “a cruel and capricious seascape” yet a place of “silky waters”, a “paradise” and a “cultural space alive with stories, myths and memories”. From these varying eyewitness accounts, it is evident that the relationship shared with, ideas and attitudes towards the Reef are subject to each individual and therefore forms a personal perspective towards it.
A subtle yet playful way of communicating the multiple perspectives of the reef is through anamorphic typography where viewers can clearly read the text only from one perspective. It emphasizes the idea that there are many ways to see and understand one idea, however to fully understand one’s perspective, you must stand where they are. The large white forms in which the viewers can walk around and immerse themselves in create an environment symbolic of the underwater coral life of the Reef, gentle yet vulnerable to the issue of coral bleaching.
The quote “And now here I am” explores notions of being present, the experience for the viewer being ‘here’ in the gallery installation and the theme of McCalman’s expectations versus reality. There is a sense of a previous journey that has lead to this moment, and encourages self reflection on past experiences. An emotion found throughout the text
was a sense of being overwhelmed as the writer responded to his surroundings and experience, as well as through the description of the size of the reef. Viewers are encouraged to immerse themselves in this space where they could encounter these themes and ideas based on McCalman’s experience.
was a sense of being overwhelmed as the writer responded to his surroundings and experience, as well as through the description of the size of the reef. Viewers are encouraged to immerse themselves in this space where they could encounter these themes and ideas based on McCalman’s experience.
To accompany this exhibition, I decided to create a set of collector’s postcards that had various extracts from the text on the back of each card, projecting individual perspectives of the Reef. The imagery on the postcards are photographs of one of the five individual sculptures. Each sculpture was photographed from three different angles, to further emphasize the idea that there is more than one particular way to see a certain subject or topic.
