Local artists take inspiration from marine scientists for MIX Artists latest exhibition Immerse

A group of Albany artists have submerged themselves in the world of marine science for their latest exhibition, which takes inspiration from local researchers. MIX Artists’ Immerse exhibition opened at the Town Hall on January 20 and features artworks ranging from traditional oil paintings to pieces made out of seagrass. The group’s artists were introduced to the world of marine science through the WA Marine Science Institution which set up connections between the artists and scientists working in the field. The artists also heard about the work of researchers from WAMSI, the University of Western Australia and Wave Energy Research Australia at a lecture last March. One of the scientists involved was Harriet Paterson, who spoke to the artists about scientific work she undertook in Antarctica and her research focus on eliminating plastic pollution from the oceans. She said she hoped the artworks would inspire action. “I think it’s wonderful, but of course, it’s all about the next bit,” Dr Paterson said. “We’ve got some lovely art making people think, but now we need to act and use plastic less. “So for me that’s when the benefit happens.” Artist and MIX chair Annette Davis took inspiration from Dr Paterson’s account of her research, creating her work Scubadeepus data-analyticae, which uses the shapes of equipment commonly used by marine scientists to create a new kind of sea creature. “I was really just interested in the pursuit of marine scientists, what they actually do in terms of collecting data, and using that to base their research and arguments on,” Davis said. “I listened to Harriet Paterson’s talk where she talked about one of the projects she worked on, and her work was just so painstaking...looking down a microscope and counting these little dots.” Fellow artist Jo Wassell also took inspiration from Dr Paterson’s work, creating an artwork that pays homage to seagrass balls, which naturally eliminate plastic from the ocean. “There was a study of some seagrass balls in the Mediterranean, and they found that they collect microplastics as they roll along,” Wassell said. “So they’re sort of clearing the ocean of plastic.” Her artwork The Tide Bequeaths is made out of a series of seagrass balls collected from the Middleton Beach shoreline across several months. Wassell said she had always seen the balls washed up on the beach but never realised their importance until doing her own research. She has sewed on to each ball with a natural cotton thread, but left the other half of the ball bare to “honour these little objects that are doing these amazing things, but are so humble”. Also taking inspiration from the natural world is Lynley Campbell’s hand-felted piece Meadow Dance. Campbell was inspired by the work of seagrass restoration warrior Geoff Bastyan, who was named the City of Albany’s citizen of the year for 2023 last week for his work in rehabilitating the plant on the Albany coast. Campbell also took inspiration from the movement of seagrass she saw when the MIX Artists visited UWA marine science students doing field work at Camp Quaranup. “There’s this long jetty, and you look over it and you can see the seagrass just drifting back and forth,” Campbell said. “They call them meadows and ..it moves in what’s almost like a dance. “And then, in the research, I found that seagrass is one of the most vulnerable ecosystems in the world.” The exhibition is on at the Town Hall until February 25.