Derrick Shead
Portland Central School
PORTLAND- THE TOWN THAT BUILT SYDNEY
Sculpture
Coreboard, polystyrene, papier-mâché
My body of work illustrates the pivotal role of my home town, Portland, in the building of Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra (a fact proudly displayed on notices as visitors enter the city). Portland's first lime kiln was established in 1863, and from 1902 the Commonwealth Portland Cement Company was shipping cement throughout Australia. The work's use of scale was partly inspired by my study of Ron Mueck. I researched period-specific wheelbarrows and made one using coreboard. I then experimented with materials such as polystyrene, filler and bitumen. I examined aerial photographs of Sydney to represent the unmistakable Circular Quay area.
My artmaking practice has been influenced by the study and interpretation of the artist Ron Mueck.
Marker's Commentary
Portland- the town that built Sydney is a powerful sculpture that cleverly invites curiosity and audience investigation. The student has presented their unique point of view informed by their immediate world and has successfully utilised juxtaposing scale to create impact and magnify the importance of the Portland cement company’s enormous contribution to building Sydney. The antiquated wheelbarrow and shovel cleverly carries the diorama, literally pouring out the CBD, and harbourside in front of the audience. The scale of Sydney is miniaturised, the skyscrapers somewhat devoid of personality, simplified and repetitive. This sophisticated composition, ingeniously invites the viewing of the inter-relationship between a quiet rural town and modern Sydney metropolis.
The deliberate use of the restricted colour palette, overall stylisation and unifying qualities are reiterated throughout the body of work. These are suggestive of the labour and workforce, faded into memory, and the importance of history to people in a small country town. The material practice references Portland's connection to lime and cement, evident in the textured surface patina. There is skilled manipulation of materials that are restrained and moderated, alluding to traditional sculptural materials like stone, ceramics and timber which evoke the concept of a memorial or monument.