A proposal for Launceston's Mudflats at the head of the Tamar Estuary band the confluence of the two Esk Rivers.
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| The squirters |
Arthur had a very playful take on what might be achieved even if it was somewhat confronting to many participants. Arthur chose to celebrate "the mud" and probably because amongst the 'experts' assembled "the mud is a huge problem" and one that showed little promise of resolution. Not even art could help here was the cry!
Undaunted Arthur played with not only the idea of playing in the mud but also playing with the sensibilities of 'the experts' - overtly and inovertly. Arthur is an eclectic thinker and totally unwilling to be constrained by 'sensibilities' other than his own.
His proposal for a "Worm Cast" AKA 'Mud Squirters' to be temporarily installed in the mudflats from time to time .... perhaps ... possibly. The idea has laid in limbo for 20 years but it seems as alive as ever and a good place to start and an interesting way to approach reimagining and celebrating Launceston's MUDFLATS. Thank you Arthur!
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| Temporary/Transient Installation Location Proposed 1994 |
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| Click on the image to enlarge |
NOTES ON ARTHUR
Arthur Wicks was born in Sydney in 1937. He received his B.Sc & Dip Ed (Sydney University) in 1958 and his Bachelor of Arts, Australian National University 1964.
He has exhibited widely throughout Australia and internationally up until the present. In 1966 he held his first solo exhibition at Nundah Galleries, Canberra 1 and 967 he was awarded French Government scholarship to study printmaking at Hayter's studio 17,
Arthur is a key proponent of colour field painting in Australia and he has produced a vast reservoir of paintings, sculptures and screen prints as relational to the socio-political landscape of 60s Australia amidst the technological globalised age fraught with destabilisation and warfare.
The combination of hard-edge abstraction with mechanical reproduction, Arthur has produced a unique visual language which reflected the new aesthetics and politics of the time. But he goes on working and we at ponrabble intend to keep in touch with him to see where this idea might go 20 years on.
Arthur is a key proponent of colour field painting in Australia and he has produced a vast reservoir of paintings, sculptures and screen prints as relational to the socio-political landscape of 60s Australia amidst the technological globalised age fraught with destabilisation and warfare.
The combination of hard-edge abstraction with mechanical reproduction, Arthur has produced a unique visual language which reflected the new aesthetics and politics of the time. But he goes on working and we at ponrabble intend to keep in touch with him to see where this idea might go 20 years on.
WATCH THIS SPACE!
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