Title
Sydney Harbour Bridge
2002
Artist
Esme Timbery
Australia
1931 – 06 Oct 2023
Language groups: Eora, South-east region, Bidjigal, South-east region
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Details
- Other Title
- Blue shell Sydney Harbour Bridge
- Place where the work was made
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Sydney
→
New South Wales
→
Australia
- Date
- 2002
- Media categories
- Mixed media , Sculpture , Animal material
- Materials used
- shells, glitter and fabric on cardboard
- Dimensions
- 11.0 x 21.7 x 5.0 cm
- Credit
- Gift of Genevieve O'Callaghan 2010
- Location
- Not on display
- Accession number
- 210.2010
- Copyright
- © Esme Timbery
- Artist information
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Esme Timbery
Works in the collection
- Share
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About
La Perouse women artists have been working with and
earning an income from shellwork for generations.
Esme Timbery recalls families taking shell-collecting trips
to the local beaches throughout their Country, catching
the ferry to Kamay/Botany Bay and spending the day
harvesting shells. Strong family connections along the
south coast of New South Wales, including the sister
community of Wreck Bay, also provides another important
source of material. An immense knowledge of the
coastline, the seasons and environmental conditions is
required to harvest specific shells – knowledge that
has been passed on through this important tradition.Esme Timbery learnt shellwork as a young girl from her
mother, grandmother and aunts by first sorting shells by
type, size and colour. A cardboard base is used to sculpt
the subjects, which is then covered with material before
being ‘shelled’ and in some cases topped with glitter –
a modern take on shell grit. The shell designs and patterns
are inherited and, in working with iconic forms like the
Sydney Harbour Bridge, Timbery and other La Perouse
artists re-craft Australia’s image and history, providing a
richer understanding of the Sydney landscape. -
Places
Where the work was made
Sydney
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Exhibition history
Shown in 5 exhibitions
Message sticks (2002), Sydney Opera House, Sydney, 13 May 2002–20 Jun 2002
Australian Collection Focus: 'La Per: an Aboriginal seaside story' (2010), Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 16 Jul 2010–10 Oct 2010
Home: Aboriginal Art from NSW, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 09 Jun 2012–02 Dec 2012
Our spirits lie in the water, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 15 Nov 2014–01 Nov 2015
Yiribana Gallery: opening collection display, Art Gallery of New South Wales, North Building, Sydney, 03 Dec 2022–29 May 2023
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Bibliography
Referenced in 2 publications
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Jonathan Jones, La Per: An Aboriginal seaside story, 'Back into the shadows', pg. 5-8, Sydney, 2010, 6, 7.
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Cara Pinchbeck, Deutscher and Hackett fine art auction: Melbourne 29 August 2012, ‘Home: focus on the new Yiribana hang’, pg. 30-31, Melbourne, 2012, 30, 31 (colour illus.).
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