Emma Robertson: SALT WATER COUNTRY
Part of ngayapi niyakara (Born to Dream)
Salt Water Country is an immersive installation experience, engaging the senses of sight, smell, sound and touch, as you make your way through an underwater kelp oasis. You are encouraged to feel your way through the exhibit and allow your senses to be captured.This exhibition draws on Culture and Country, and explores the effects that climate change is having on both. Emma Robertson invites the visitor to reflect on their daily practices and consider the small changes we can all make to protect our seas from the impact of climate change. This tactile experience emphasises the deep connection we have with kelp and the sea, and highlights how they can aid against the effects of climate change and global warming.
The kelp in this exhibition has been collected using ethical and sustainable practices. The installation utilises video and recordings captured during on Country trips from collection sites.
Opening Event:
5pm on 25 January 2023, hosted by TasPorts at Elizabeth Street Pier (Next to Fish Frenzy) with Welcome to Country from Luana Towney
Exhibition Continues:
12pm - 5pm weekdays, 12pm - 6pm weekends
25 - 29 January 2023
Please note that the installation includes moving coloured lights. If you have any inquiries about the exhibition please email us at constance.director@gmail.com
About the Artist:
Emma Robertson is a proud Palawa woman, with strong connections to the north east of lutruwita, Flinders Island and the Channel Area in the south east, a descendant of Fanny Cochrane Smith.
Emma has been mentored by Aunty Verna Nichols who has carefully taught her the knowledge of shell stringing, weaving and kelp water carriers. She believes she has many more years of learning and practising her skills so as to pass them on to her children and other generations.
She has previously exhibited at the Chosen Exhibition at the Longhouse and at the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair. She likes to use some of her learnt cultural elements to make new and contemporary pieces of artwork, necklaces, jewellery and fabrics. She has been fortunate enough to be part of the Creatives team on Blackspace Creative that regularly showcases some of her works and as part of the collaborating artists in Homestate nipaluna for Dark Mofo 2021.
Emma was born and raised in nipaluna/Hobart where she still lives today, with her husband and children. She works at Karadi Aboriginal Corporation where she is the Health manager, working to promote health and well-being to community.
To learn more about Emma Robertson head to her webpage:
https://www.facebook.com/lutruwitaniyakaradesigns
About ngayapi niyakara (born to dream):
ngayapi niyakara (born to dream) is a partnership between the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC) and Constance Artist-Run Initiative that provides a paid opportunity for emerging Aboriginal artists based in lutruwita (Tasmania) to present new temporary artworks in an outdoor public space of their choice anywhere in lutruwita (Tasmania).
Constance ARI works across Country cared for by the Palawa of lutruwita and the Tasmanian Aboriginal Community. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout the so called ‘Australia’, as well as First Nations people from elsewhere, and their deep connection to the lands, skies and waterways over which sovereignty was never ceded. We pay our respect to all Elders; we are grateful for their continued sharing of knowledge and Culture.