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An image of The memory of nature by Janet Laurence
Alternate image of The memory of nature by Janet Laurence Alternate image of The memory of nature by Janet Laurence

Janet Laurence

(Australia 1949– )

Title
The memory of nature
Place of origin
Sydney → New South Wales → Australia
Year
2010
Media category
Installation
Materials used
acrylic, scientific glass, dried plants, seeds, sulphur, salt, amethyst, taxidermied owls, shellac, tulle, wood, burnt bones, hand bones, hand-blown glass, oil paint, mirrors
Dimensions

180.5 x 300.5 x 170.3cm overall

Credit
Purchased with funds provided by the Art Gallery Society of New South Wales Contempo Group and the Contemporary Collection Benefactors with the generous assistance of Geoff Ainsworth AM, Peter Braithwaite, Sally Breen, Andrew & Cathy Cameron, Ginny & Leslie Green, Michael Hobbs, Ray Wilson OAM 2012
Accession number
125.2012
Copyright
© Janet Laurence
Location
Not on display
Further information

Janet Laurence’s sculptural installations address the fragility of natural environments and questions of sustainability. Her works emphasise states of transformation as well as cycles of life and death, typically mingling organic matter and scientific instruments with references to museum modes of display.

'The memory of nature' includes materials reprised from an earlier work by Laurence titled 'Waiting: a medicinal garden for ailing plants', which was installed in the Royal Botanical Gardens for the 2010 Biennale of Sydney. Assuming the form of a makeshift glasshouse, 'Waiting' functioned as an ‘intensive care unit’ for sick plants that evoked a state of environmental crisis. In stark contrast, 'The memory of nature' presents to viewers the aftermath of that effort, situating the carefully preserved remains of now-dead plants alongside other objects such as taxidermied owls and burnt bones. Evoking the form of both museum vitrines and historical monuments, the work stands as a memorial to nature now lost.

Bibliography (11)

‘The Memory of Nature: Contempo helps to buy a new AGNSW acquisition’ by Jill Sykes, pg. 16-17., Look Aug 2012, Aug 2012, cover (colour illus., detail), 11 (colour illus.),16 , (colour illus.), 17 (colour illus., detail). Pg. 17 features three colour illustration details.

‘New Australia’ by Wayne Tunnicliffe and Deborah Edwards, pg. 24-27., Look May 2012, May 2012, 26.

Gene Sherman (Australia) (Author), Janet Laurence: After Eden / Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation, Paddington, 2012, 102 (colour illus., detail), 103 (colour illus., detail), 104 (colour illus.), 105 (colour illus., detail).

‘Janet Laurence: In Memory of Nature 11 August – 9 October 2011’., Janet Laurence: in memory of nature + Sue Healey: reading the body 2011, 2011, (illus., detail). Not paginated

Jane Devery (Author), In Memory of Nature: Janet Laurence, Coffs Harbour, 2011, cover (colour illus., detail), i (colour illus.), iii (colour illus., detail). Not paginated

‘Waiting: A Medicinal Garden for Ailing Plants’ by Ingrid Periz, pg. 73-79., Antennae: the journal of nature in visual culture Autumn 2011, Autumn 2011, 73 (colour illus.), 74, 75 (colour illus. detail), 76, 77 (colour illus., detail), 78 (colour illus.), 79. Note: article refers to ‘WAITING- A Medicinal Garden for Ailing Plants’, an earlier version of the work included in the 17th Biennale of Sydney, 2010; viewed 27th June 2012 http://www.antennae.org.uk/ANTENNAE%20ISSUE%2018.docx.pdf

‘Biennial: so far away, and yet so near’ by Felicity Fenner, pg. 45-50., Art in America: international review Sep 2010, Sep 2010, 45 (colour illus.), 48. Note: article refers to ‘WAITING- A Medicinal Garden for Ailing Plants’, an earlier version of the work included in the 17th Biennale of Sydney, 2010.

‘A hospital for plants: The healing art of Janet Laurence’ by Felicity Fenner, pg. 64-67., Art & Australia 2010, 2010, 66 (colour illus., detail), 67 (colour illus., detail). Note: article refers to ‘WAITING- A Medicinal Garden for Ailing Plants’, an earlier version of the work included in the 17th Biennale of Sydney, 2010.

‘Ministering to a fragile planet’ by Sue Gardiner, pg. 84-89., Art news New Zealand Spring 2010, Spring 2010, 84 (colour illus.). Note: article refers to ‘WAITING- A Medicinal Garden for Ailing Plants’, an earlier version of the work included in the 17th Biennale of Sydney, 2010.

‘A letter from Sydney: July 2010’; ‘II. Janet Laurence: Waiting – A Medicinal Garden for Ailing Plants.’, by Janet McKenzie., Studio International Jul 2010, Jul 2010, (colour illus., detail). Note: article refers to ‘WAITING- A Medicinal Garden for Ailing Plants’, an earlier version of the work included in the 17th Biennale of Sydney, 2010; viewed 26th June 2012 <http://www.studio-international.co.uk/reports/letter-from-sydney-2010.asp>; not paginated

Ingrid Periz (Australia) (Author), What can a garden be?, Sydney, Sep 2010, cover (colour illus.). Not paginated