One of the artists I most admire is the Australian contemporary artist, Fiona Hall. As a student at QCA (Qld College of Art) I had the good fortune to attend a lecture by her a few years ago, where she talked about her work and the processes and thinking involved in making her very original pieces. I think it is a shame that her name is not known to a lot of Australians, as in this country it often seems that artists with bad boy reputations, big dollar sellers or Archibald prize winners tend to receive the lions share of publicity about art.
Fiona Hall’s art deals with society and culture and increasingly how we as humans are impacting upon the natural world. Her work is often extremely detailed and her ideas and thinking multi-faceted and complex.
Fiona Hall, Medicine Bundle for the non-born Child, 1993-1994
Medicine Bundle for the non-born Child, is a baby’s layette made from knitting coca-cola cans.
This artwork investigates the history of coca leaves from South America and cola nuts from Africa; both important medicinal plants in their original settings. I know from my own travels in Peru and Bolivia, that Coca Tea is the key tonic to prevent and minimise the effects of altitude sickness in these countries. Coca-Cola, which originally used both herbs, is a major symbol of capitalism and globalisation, as well as the world’s biggest soft drink brand. So this work combines examination of the desire for consumer goods with appropriation of knowledge from Third World countries whilst also questioning the future for the world’s children.
Another work that I really like is her sculptural collection entitled Tender (2003-2005). Much of Fiona Hall’s work mimics the style of a scientific exhibit such as you would find in a Museum of Natural History or Science. This particular artwork is also displayed in glass fronted cabinets and consists of many birds’ nests of all shapes and sizes, constructed from dozens of American one-dollar notes, each bearing the official declaration: “This note is legal tender”. The American dollar is the most widely used currency in international trade and the most desired currency in Third World countries. Her birds nests of greenback’s provide a shelter for those desperate for it, like birds scavenging for material to build their nests, at the same time as the advance of capitalism is also leading to deforestation and lack of natural habitat for both birds, animals and people.
Fiona Hall, Tender, US Dollars, 2003 - 2005.
Fiona Hall, detail - Tender, US Dollars, 2003 - 2005
If you would like to see more of this intriguing artists work, there is a very comprehensive education pack available as a PDF from the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney. I think it is refreshing to see a major Australian contemporary artist who does more than just navel gazing and self analysis and who engages us both intellectually and aesthetically. If I had to nominate someone who would be my role model in terms of artistic practise, Fiona Hall would be the one.
Dear Sandy, Thanks for your thoughts on Fiona Hall’s work and integrity as an artist. As you say, it is so good to know artists like Hall exist, as opposed to the blokes who occupy most of the limelight in the male dominated art world. She is an inspiration to me too! Am currently studying Dip. Ed in Visual Arts and am using her work to introduce students to a fabulous Australian artist who can turn their hand to anything she likes to make art of substance.