Email: tiana.martinic@gmail.com

Phone: 0409 128 278

VESSEL

A shell of display that appeals to the five human senses through tactility, engagement and teaching.
Just as a vessel is a symbol of humanity, the La Perouse precinct will stand as a vessel of Aboriginal heritage, art and tradition. One that holds and carries on the past, present and future of Aboriginal art. The notion of a ‘vessel’ was inspired by initial research on traditional Aboriginal shell farming off the shore of Bare Island, as well as the idea of encasement and protection, of both artefacts at precedent museums and the original function of Bare Island Fort, one of defence and security. This inspired encasing existing forms under and within glass, woven, shell-like and geodesic forms. In alignment to the enclosed design of the fort, a shell protects and houses whatever inhabits it. Elements of transparency and permeability become a means of sustaining and paying respect to heritage. Design features that make use of light and shadow, along with the heavy use of glass as material choice, reflect this.

Aboriginals don’t have a written language, they pass on their stories through dance, song, sculpture, dance, the Dreaming, making and weaving. This led to highlighting the importance of touch in society. It’s proven that touch plays a vital role in human physical and psychological health, ultimately connecting life. Hearing, seeing, smelling, touching and tasting are all associated with our survival, emotions and pleasing sensations. Based upon this, the museum will work as a sensorium, where each of the five gun chambers will reflect and simulate a different sense, along with strong forms of tactility amongst the whole site.

It will be a destination for the La Perouse community to create art and become one with art, leaving guests and visitors with an overall sensorial experience wishing to return. The site carries a motif of a frame, designed to facilitate evolving an interchanging Aboriginal artists, both local and external, to come and go with temporary exhibitions. Just as a shell has a cyclical nature, evolving and transforming, so will the art on display. Standing as a canvas for innovation, exhibition space holds opportunities for individuality yet permanence, a means to leave a mark upon the site. Art will be created; through teaching of traditional weaving, painting and dance, as well as lived; where guests are encased under glass, much like an artefact themselves.