Come Inside

Come Inside, 2022

Three multimedia sculptural collages; sisal, foraged twigs and leaves, garden netting, wire mesh, acrylic paint, photographs and drawings on paper.

Come Inside is a series of three sculptural collages that depict life inside the forest sanctuary at Otari-Wilton’s Bush, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington.

The sculptural forms translate the experience of a taking a detour off the meandering forest path and transcending into the tranquil sanctuary of the trees, which is represented in a series of three works that maps the journey. The rich textures of the earthy forest floor are presented in a sequence of photographic swatches that are bound together in a tactile grid formation, much like a patchwork quilt of the many delights of nature that I find so intriguing on my walk.

Broken twigs from the site create the intricate scaffolding for a rich combination of found images, dried botanicals, rubbings, photographs, and sketches. The images combine to breathe life back into the trees and create a beautiful, colourful composition of the flora and fauna that thrive in the space. In the other work, the light passes through a tall, dome-shaped tangle of vines and ferns, cascading a shadowy reflection in the undergrowth.

I Am Here Now, 2023

Digital video | Colour | Audio
4min 32sec

There are many tempting textures and captivating sights along the forest pathway that ignite a spark of interest, and suddenly, I’m touching, stroking, and breathing in the earthy atmosphere. When I step off the path and slip into the trees, I am immediately transported into my sanctuary away from real life and a sense of calm washes over me. The dappled sunlight filters through the lush leafy canopy high above and creates dancing shadows that play tricks with my eyes. The wind whips up the rustling leaves and the branches part and bow a whispered greeting as I slip into the solitary space cocooned inside the dense tangle of vines and twisted roots. It’s a spiritual place infused with light, colourful energy, and the sounds of life within the trees.