2009
powder-coated aluminium, stainless steel, nylon
1420 X 340 X 60 cm
Once Again
The course is common,
experience parallel,
unaccompanied
mutually.
Incidents are recurrent,
formerly known,
remembered
new.
Realisation is experience,
found
Once, again.
"On those stepping into rivers the same,
other and other waters flow."
Herakleitos (c.535BC - 475BC)
For all things experienced there must be a first time, this primary introduction colours all future participation. On first encounter Once, Again is new, the observer does not know its scale until it is measured against things that are known, against oneself. Once the basic physical attributes of the object are understood the relationship with the object changes, it becomes familiar, with familiarity it becomes possible to look more deeply, to contemplate and to examine the subtleties of the work.
The process of examining and judging happens most often unconsciously. Once, Again is a trigger for a cognitive process, a vehicle for measuring ourselves, a marker against which to position ourselves in time and space.
The repetition of forms amplifies the effects of perspective; the simple lines are effected by light, colour literally reflects upon itself and hopefully encourages reflection in others. Varying light gently (or sometimes dramatically) effects the work. Each viewing of the work brings greater familiarity but each experience is different.
Cities are full of routes, streets and laneways take us to where we want to go, we know from experience which route will take us where in the shortest amount of time or via some place we wish to visit on the way to our destination. We follow the routes we know, often without consciously deciding this is the way we want to go. Land marks remind us that we are correctly negotiating the route we wish to take.
Brisbane's river effects how we negotiate this particular city, the river winds and twists through the suburbs and the inner city, often forcing (or encouraging) us to deviate from the strait line. When a river crossing is necessary (such as will be the case with this new pedestrian bridge) many routes converge. Once the crossing is complete these routes then fan out again taking us to our varied destinations.
This new route that will be provided by the lane running along the ground floor of the Northbridge building will be at first a new experience for all pedestrians, eventually it will become a familiar experience to many. Though familiar each experience is different, even if the path is well known to us there are always subtle differences in the route, slight variations in speed, direction, emotional state, purpose, memory.
Commissioner - Nielson Properties Brisbane
Curation - Positive Solutions
Architect - Donovan Hill
Fabrication - Rockpress
Powdercoating - Peerless Powdercoating
EngineeringIan - Barnes & Associates
