IT’S probably something we curse at the beach and occasionally nudge to the side in a bento box—seaweed.
But a bunch of artists are finally giving the good-for-the-environment, under-rated organism its due, with a whole exhibition about the slimy stuff.
“The title of the exhibition Holdfast is actually the name of the anchoring system seaweed uses to hold itself steady in the tumult of the sea,” says participating artist Nicole Steenhof.
“Seaweed is definitely underrated—the Indian Ocean hosts such a variety of species, each producing oxygen and providing shelter between harsh elements in the intertidal zone, and acting as nurseries for all sorts of animals.
“There is a rich history of seaweed uses and also so much to be discovered.”
Fusing science, history and mythology, Steenhof is joined by artists Josephine Johnson and Leza Howie in a wide-ranging exhibition that includes paintings, cyanotype, sculpture and poetry.
The trio met while studying Fine Art at Curtin University, bonding over their love of the WA coastline and their concern about the environment.
Not content with being inspired by seaweed, a lot of the artworks are made from the plant itself, including a garment that wouldn’t look out of place on Lady Gaga, and paintings made from the reddish pigment in the species Asparagopsis.
There’s a darker side to the exhibition too, with haunting ghost-like paintings hinting at the damage caused to the environment by humans.
Another highlight is a series of bright, large-scale paintings that feature a close-up of seaweed’s blades.
“Peripheral colour is a series within this exhibition which looks at different seaweeds that I’ve identified on my coastal walks and references their unique colour as a frame for seascapes,” Steenhof says.
“Some red macro-algae fade into incredibly vivid pink colours which really sing next to the blues and greens of the Indian Ocean.
“Some other artworks actually use Asparagopsis, a particular species of red macro-algae, as a pigment mixed with stand oil to create a paint.”
A talented painter who often turns to the coastline for inspiration, Steenhof says after moving overseas she viewed the ocean as a symbol of connection rather than separation.
“The ocean has the capacity to be a container to hold a myriad of meanings, and so it will never be exhausted as a source of inspiration for me,” she says.
“Swimming in the sea throughout the seasons helps me to find an embodied way of painting the ocean.”
There’s still time to catch Holdfast at the Moores Building Arts Space, 46 Henry St, Fremantle before it closes on Sunday July 12 at 3pm. For more info about the exhibition see wfac.org.au.
by STEPHEN POLLOCK