Fremantle Biennale: UNIT

We are thrilled to participate in this year’s Fremantle Biennale, a site-responsive art event encompassing our whole city. We first got excited about this event in 2017, when Swiss artist Felice Varini enlivened our High Street with his ‘Arcs D’ellipses’ artwork. 

Our project is part of UNIT, a multi-site installation that will see thirteen practices design and deliver stand-alone works along Fremantle’s waterfront. We’re always on the lookout for new collaborations and so we asked Dr Andrew Sunley Smith to partner with us and be in charge of fabrication. Here’s a few words that describe our work:

“Our site is on Victoria Quay, close to the launch point for the Rottnest ferry. 

In our studio, we’ve been exploring the rich linkages between Walyalup (Fremantle) and Wadjemup (Rottnest), and the Indigenous stories that we’ve heard over years of living and working in this place. 

We’ve been deeply moved by the story of Noongar women lighting fires on and around Cantonment Hill to act as a beacon and signal a way home for prisoners fleeing the island.

We’ve looked at maritime motifs, in particular, the triangular shaped devices that cave divers clip on to lines to help them navigate black water to ensure they can find their way to safety.

The aim of our work is to manifest a more optimistic future.”

Fremantle Biennale runs from 1 - 24 November 2019.