The Biblio Art Prize invites artists to respond to a book by an Australian Author randomly selected by the Blarney Books and Art team. I was thrilled to have been allocated The Burning Island by Jock Serong.
I was assigned The Burning Island while on residency in Canberra where I borrowed the book from the ANU Library, my next stop was Sydney where I purchased a copy and, as a wandering artist, I found myself in a unique position to (attempt) to follow the voyage of The Burning Island's Moonbird.
The Burning Island’s Moonbird left Sydney by sea, and I by plane to Tasmania. We came within a mere 24 km from each other over land, space, time and sea.
I left my copy of the book being read in Tasmania and I purchased the audiobook and ebook to listen to on my journey to New Caledonia (Jock Serong, you may owe me some royalties or something, are we at 4 copies now?)
The work was constructed in Nouméa while I had a broken rib which made for some really fun stitching techniques!
North South North is an applique cartograph of paths taken some 220 years apart. Assembled with the fabrics mentioned in the book, it speaks to nostalgia, heartache, deceit, love, loss and an island so close yet so far.
The story does not stop there, The artwork was couriered to the gallery and got lost! So who knows if it even makes it to exhibition. What a ride this little piece has been on.
Whether my work is on a wall or not, I highly recommend a visit to see the wonderful interpretations the other artists constructed from their allocated books. What a fun exhibition.
The exhibition will open on Saturday, 10 December and continue through until the end of February, 2023.
See Mixed Lollies for final artwork
Lada Dedic with The Burning Island by Jock Serong
Photo: Justin R Bannon
Lada Dedic, North South North
Photo: Justin R Bannon
