THE OUTDOORS TYPE. BOAT DRESS
19/05/2012.
Jacqueline Bradley
metalocus, INÉS LALUETA
metalocus, INÉS LALUETA
The Australian landscape is full of paradox: colonised land and wild bush; droughts and flooding rains; serenity and danger. During her residence program at BundanonTrust Artist, Jacqueline Bradley started making sculptural objects that respond to these paradoxes and explore her own relationship with the land in a humorous and light-hearted way. Just like The Lemonheads’ song ‘Outdoors Type’ that the exhibition title alludes to, Bradley thinks an outdoors type is a great thing to be, but is under no illusions about her comfort or prowess in the wild.
Boat Dress, Jacqueline Bradley, part of the installation “The Outdoors Type,” 2011. Courtesy of the artist.
Boat Dress Install. Installation View (The Outdoors Type - CCAS) Photographed by Brenton Mcgeachie 2011
Boat Dress. Jacqueline Bradley. Performance still by Tegan Payne.
Picnic glasses / Gafas para picnic. Jacqueline Bradley.
Accordingly, Boat Dress opens up the possibility of using rivers for transport and recreation. Another of Bradley’s objects, Ladder Shoes, intends to keep the wearer safe from snakes whilst traversing a grassy plain.
Bradley’s objects are inherently believable. No plastics to be seen, no high-tech components; Bradley’s sculptures are 100% hand-made.
Bradley’s ‘outdoors type’ can see the humour and possibilities inherent in our relationship with the land, and beats their own wacky path through it aided by inventiveness, creativity and an inspiring sense of adventure.
Text: Annika Harding
Boat Dress 1* 2009 From series The Outdoors. Photographed by Tegan Payne. Bundanon Trust Artist in Residency program.
Exhibit in Gorman House from 15th July to 20th August 2011
