16th September, 2011

This particular piece was one that stood out as being among the top five that I admired. It certainly caught your eye along the Bondi to Bronte coastal walk. It was wonderfully positioned and with the sea as it's background it formed a picturesque setting. This unique little treasure was constructed from timber furniture, hessian, soil, sand and grass seed; I was instantly attracted to this piece of art imitating life. Designed by Sally Kidall of NSW.

at the table: are we sitting comfortably?

The intention is for the work to respond to its surrounding environment during its display and cultivate over the exhibition. Sally describes the table and chairs as a cultural symbol for the sharing of meals, a family meeting place, or a place to present, discuss and review ideas and opinions. Phrases such as 'on the table' or 'turn the tables' emphasize the metaphorical use of the word table. Sally is inspired by famous table scenes such as Miss Havisham's decaying wedding feast in Great Expectations, or the Mad Hatter's tea party in Alice in Wonderland, King Arthur's table of wisdom, the Round Table, or Jesus' Last-Supper (Allens Arthur Robinson, 2011).

Statement: challenging the predictability of expectations and 'cultural homogeneity', informed by issues relating to human ecology, consumption and materialism.
Sally has exhibited extensively both nationally and internationally, and completed her MA in Art Design and Media at Portsmouth University in 2007. She is an International environmental artist who was born in the UK and has been practicing for 30 years. At present she works in Australia.

Sally has exhibited extensively both nationally and internationally, and completed her MA in Art Design and Media at Portsmouth University in 2007. She is an International environmental artist who was born in the UK and has been practicing for 30 years. At present she works in Australia. Sally says, "Through site-specific environmental installations and photography she seeks to challenge the predictability of expectations & ‘cultural homogeneity’”. Her art practice is inspired by the complexities, equilibrium and fragility of the natural environment and by the ways in which our man-made systems work within, or in opposition to, those natural systems. The focus of her practice is the concept of transition, including notions of unpredictability, vulnerability, deterioration, transformation and ephemerality. “My work is informed by issues relating to human ecology, consumption and materialism" (Kidall, 2007).

This artwork can be re-created for an artist fee.

Other sculptures by Sally Kindall include:
Affluenza: are you sitting comfortably?
Staying Afloat: is enough enough?
Survival
The Experiment
The Experiment II