Finalist, Maritime Art Awards
Derwent Requiem
The Lake Illawarra and the Tasman Bridge
My artwork Derwent Requiem was selected as a finalist in the 2021 Maritime Art Awards. I am proud to say that this is the fifth time that I have been shortlisted for these awards!
Gallery of finalists’ works can be viewed and purchsed here.
My work is based on the 1975 disaster in which the freighter Lake Illawarra slammed in to the Tasman Bridge in Hobart’s River Derwent, bringing down the bridge and dividing the city for almost three years. Seven crew members on the ship died and four cars ran over the gap into the Derwent River. Five occupants died; others managed to escape from the two vehicles which teetered on the edge of the gap.
The Lake Illawarra sank within minutes, and lies there to this day, pinned down by the collapsed bridge spans.
My work is constructed from three separate sheets of paper, each handmade using seaweeds from the Derwent River. The overlaid paper is backlit by LED lights.
Without the lights, only the uppermost sheet of paper is visible, representing the water’s surface.
Once the lights are on the Lake Illawarra is visible. Tasman Bridge pilons can be seen in the background and extending above the water’s surface.
The multiple layers of paper give detail and depth to the image.
This is an exciting new technique which I am keen to explore further!
The Maritime Art Exhibition is being held online this year due to Melbourne’s lockdown restrictions.
The gallery of finalists’ entries can be viewed and purchased here.