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LANDED: Architectural Mapping / Projection Art - Junction 2010 Artistic Program

Launceston's landmark Henty House provided a backdrop for illumination artist Cindi Drennan. This prime example of brutalist style architecture was transfromed by the creation of an illuminated audiovisual environment mapped to the architecture, over 5 nights of the Junction 2010 National Regional Arts Festival.

Henty House is significantly different to much of Launceston architecture, predominantly early colonial style buildings. It was selected as the site for Cindi's contribution to the artistic program, to highlight the value of working with contemporary spaces that are otherwise neglected or considered unappealing.

Youtube video with artists commentary

Youtube video of show segments

The theme selected for the projection was "plank time". The concrete structure consists of formwork sections that are embossed with a woodgrain pattern, as though the building has been constructed of planks. The parallel was drawn between growth rings of an enoromous and ancient tree cut down in 1983 to make the building, and the historic occurances during the "life" of that tree. This was divided into the following sections:

Growth Rings : showing Deep Time through to 1983, when the "tree" was cut and Henty House built.

Plank 1 : Deep Time. Figures representing early human connection to the earth, shadows of the mythical tree, and stalking thylacines inhabiting the forest.

Plank 2 : Voyages. Ships with trees for masts and sails, representing the voyages of people arriving in Tasmania, and also the voyage of the Henty family who came to "replant" themselves in Australia... and after whom Henty House is named.

Plank 3 : Concrete Jungle. Transformation of the rural landscape into an urban one and a pastoral landscape into one of business and trade. The ghost of the thylacine, possibly extinct but still in consciousness, stalking.

Plank 4 : People Power. The rising power of population growth, and collective consciousness of millions of people becoming aware of the pressure apon the environment. Abstracted Images of nature are overlaid with mouths and eyes. This is a reference to political events of 1983 occurring synchronously with the building of Henty House. It was also a reference to the coincidence of a Federal election which had been called the week before the LANDED event and for which the results were still inconclusive.

LED texts (Roofline & Pillar) : These sections represent the historical events occuring throughout 1982 and 1983 synchronous with the building and completion of Henty House. It also features text extracted from online forums. These are presented in an LED ticker format reminiscent of stock exchange codes, a visual reference to the floating of the Australian Dollar, that also occurred in 1983.

Created by Cindi Drennan and the Illuminart team as an artistic contribution to the Junction 2010 program. The project was made possible with the support of:

LOCAL STAGES INITIATIVE SA

JUNCTION 2010

and the AUSTRALIA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS (through the connections residency with the SANYO Oceania and Mosaic AV)

For further information contact illuminart.

click images below to see a larger view:

Photos courtesy of Patrick Sutczak

Illuminart Team:
Cindi Drennan - Projection Artist / Director (Illuminart)
Craig Laurendet - Installation Architect (Illuminart)
Dyonne Barberie - Project Coordinator (Illuminart)
Penny Camens - Project Coordinator (Local Stages)
Sam McMahon - Cavalry

Junction2010 Team:
Ian Pidd - Director, Artistic Program
Angela Driver - General Manager
Megan Jolly - Program Manager
Krista Horbatiuk - Project Manager
Joe Pickett - AD / Venue Support

Sponsors and supporters:
Junction 2010 Project Sponsor - Rick Marton, Effective Naturally
Project Set up: Steve Mayhew Local Stages Initiative SA

Acknowledgements

The Projector Pods were created as a component of the Connections Residency, supported by the Australia Council for the Arts, the Australian Government's arts funding and advisory body.

The project commission was supported by funding from the Local Stages Initiative, SA.

RESEARCH REFERENCES:

Thomas Ryan: Tasmanian photographer who captures the essence of Australian modernist buildings in his photography and essays. Screen grab
SITES
Art Deco & Modernism Architecture Australia
Henty House Article
Henty House Gallery

The Thylacine Museum: comprehensive information about the Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger)

Wilderness Society: Youtube videos of 1983 Franklin Dam Protests Pt 1 and Pt 2