Sculpture by the Sea, one of the world’s biggest outdoor sculpture exhibitions, featured a work by Matt Gill and his UNSW team exploring the complexity of mental illness through video and sculpture.
It was only the second time a video installation was part of the exhibition, now in its 22nd year and visited by about half a million people annually. The work was among 100 sculptures by artists from around the world on the two-kilometre coastal walk from Bondi to Tamarama.
The interactive installation, Look Inside My Mind, was a collaborative work by UNSW’s visual content manager Matthew Gill and his team, with UNSW Medicine, UNSW Psychology and UNSW Canberra.
Positioned at the steps on the edge of Tamarama’s Marks Park, Look Inside My Mind, was a 2.5 metre androgynous, ageless resin head that gave visitors an imagined glimpse into an experience of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through a looping video seen through multiple viewing stations.
“On closer inspection the viewer realised there were three viewing holes positioned around the head,” said Gill. “Within the sculpture is a three-minute audio and visual sequence that depicted the lived experience of PTSD from the viewpoint of a returning soldier.”
‘Look Inside My Heart’ was my concept on behalf of UNSW Medicine to explore and highlight the connection between UNSW’s work in heart health and the impact its research has on the community. It was in production for the 2020 festival before being cancelled due to Covid19.
The installation combines two graphic versions of a heart: on the outside we see a transparent anatomical heart, which represents UNSW Medicine’s heart health research and education. Inside the anatomical heart is a bright red beating heart shape, which represents the community.
In front of these hearts is a device that lets visitors read their pulse by touch. The heart shape then radiates, pulses a red light and makes a sound like a beating heart – in time with the individual’s pulse. The screen displays the heart rate of the visitor in beats per minute. Heart disease kills approximately one Australian every 12 minutes. ‘Look Inside My Heart’ wants to start a conversation and increase awareness of what’s still called a ‘silent killer’.
This is my entry into ‘Art and about’ a competition to find 4 artists to exhibit in the city of Sydney and gain a grant of $85,000 to produce their work.
Since at least the start of the 20th century, the average global sea level has been rising. Between 1900 and 2016, the sea level rose by 16–21 cm.
More precise data gathered from satellite radar measurements reveal an accelerating rise of 7.5 cm from 1993 to 2017, which is a trend of roughly 30 cm per century.
This acceleration is due mostly to human-caused global warming.
‘HELP’ is my artistic comment on this issue. A 10 metre tall hand comes rising out of the harbour as a cry for help. The hand is made out of 200 life saving vests which are wrapped around a metal structure.
Situated in Barangaroo Reserve this piece will demand attention and cause conversations.
