The Bridge Art Prize

Under Bridge Water, watercolour on paper, 1040x1520mm

Tannin stained rivulets begin their journey in the pristine highlands surrounding leeawuleena/ Lake St Clair - meaning sleeping water – to cascade through the foothills of Mt Olympus, the Ducane and Traveller ranges and Mt Rufus. They descend, forging gullies and waterfalls, swelling to form the dark waters of timtumili minanya/ the Derwent. Their brackish destination lies under the bridge, cool, salty and fresh, at Bridgewater, where the paredarerme people once walked the shores.
This shimmering watery image - Under Bridge Water - seeks to illuminate that moment of connection where pure highland waters meet the surge of ocean tides. It captures the link between the seas flowing around the island - from Bass Strait where I live in the North West - to nipaluna/Hobart. Similarly, this new bridge rising from either shore, reaching across the river, links us all, forming a symbol of journeys either beginning or ending.