John Davis, Lake
Mournoul III, 1989.
Eucalyptus
twigs, paper, calico, bondcrete, bitumous paint,
92x135x45 cm.
Image reproduced from the John Buckley Contemporary Collection;
Photograph: Daniel Dorall.
John Davis, Lake Mournoul III, 1989,
is
made from found materials - eucalyptus twigs and cheap ingredients from
the hardware store which were also 'Depression' mainstays such as
calico, bitumen and brown paper. Davis has chosen to use the antithesis
of expensive 'professional' artist's materials such as bronze casting
and oil on linen. The imagery of the fish or boat-shaped structure
possibly symbolising a totem of Lake Mournoul is depicted in 'earthy
bush' colours. The simple and unprofessional construction technique,
suggesting 'anyone could do it', facilitates an inclusive response
focused instead on the artist's ingenuity. Additionally, the realised
image of the fish/boat has more to do with childlike drawing, or
perhaps, Indigenous iconography than figurative realism.
Australian
sculptor, John Davis, 1936-1999, exhibited widely including Melbourne,
Japan and the United States. He represented Australia at the Venice
Bienniale, 1978. His work has an ephemeral quality and could be site
specific (Davis often worked in the Mallee region of Victoria). Some works could be
as simple as a re-arrangement of found twigs which were then
photographed. John Davis' work is represented in many public and private
collections including the National Gallery of Australia and state
galleries in NSW, Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania.