Zoe Streckeisen
Northern Beaches Secondary College Mackellar Girls Campus
LEGACY...WHAT'S THE CATCH?
Collection of Work
Coloured pencil, ink, dye on paper
My body of work examines our world's ephemeral nature, underscoring the delicate balance between creation and removal, abundance and depletion. In response to today's commodification of fishing practices, it juxtaposes the representation of a 'glorycatch' with an abundant species of fish, printed in the traditional Japanese gyotaku method. My manipulation of negative space conveys the profound ecological impact of these practices. Through every stroke, overlaying colour and intentional removal, I invite audiences to reflect on the legacy we are shaping for future generations, as we navigate the fragile intersection of human consumption and the preservation of our natural world.
My artmaking practice has been influenced by the study and interpretation of the following artists: CJ Hendry, Lucienne Rickard, traditional Japanese gyotaku fish prints.
Marker's Commentary
This carefully curated collection of work examines human impact on marine environments using the fish motif to explore themes of abundance, depletion, and overfishing. A hyper-realistic coloured pencil drawing of freshly caught whiting reveals refinement and sophistication in the rendering of forms, exposing the glistening and slippery surface of the fresh catch, echoing drawing techniques of Lucienne Rickard and CJ Hendry. This is contrasted by the gyotaku prints, taken directly from the surface of the day’s haul, emphasising the textural surfaces, patterns and structures of the fish. The restricted colour palette and fading of eco dying, evoke the transition in marine health emphasising the emerging bleached skeletal forms.
This body of work includes a sequence of multilayered collages teaming with printed fish. These incorporate heavily stitched threads, resembling nets that evolve into embossed prints devoid of fish, emphasising loss through the stillness. In contrast, a series of delicate etchings offer intimate views of a fishing trawler from a personal perspective, as it lurches on the ocean. The title Legacy… What’s the catch? suggests an ironic commentary on inheritance and family traditions around fishing. These concepts link to 17th century Dutch still life images of cornucopia, while equally questioning concerns of sustainability as referenced in the Ricky Swallow’s Killing Time.