Walk through: The Volume of Hope Solo Exhibition - fibre artist Catriona Pollard

The Volume of Hope - a meditation on nature and hope - Sydney fibre artist Catriona Pollard’s seventh solo exhibition ‘The Volume of Hope’ explores the relationship between nature and hope. Tapping into the energy of nature, the new body of work is a meditation on the natural world exploring its ability to generate hope.
By sharing the dialogue with natural materials and allowing them to inform the narrative, the artworks address humans’ relationship with nature and its tangible impact on hope, with the ultimate aim of moving people closer to hope for the wellbeing of all - both human and the more than human world.
The new body of work is the culmination of the awarded 2021 Northern Beaches Art Residency. It includes sculptures using traditional basketry techniques with foraged and discarded plant material, recycled copper, paper and moving image.
“It’s the wonder of nature which people flocked to during the COVID lockdown seeking that powerful link between hope and nature. It seems like never before has it been so necessary to search out and rely on hope,” Ms Pollard said.
“Encountering nature - listening to the wind in the trees, smelling the earth, tasting the rain, watching an ant walk across a rock - increases hope directly as it intrinsically demonstrates the interconnectedness of all things.”
“This sense of connectedness and appreciation of the more than human world is an essential source of hope. It links us to future possibilities and to the greater living world around us and the sense of wonder and joy that only nature can provide.”
“Hope also inspires responsibility for conserving the more than human world and recognising the interdependence between the welfare of humans and the natural world,” said Ms Pollard.
Ms Pollard has established a reputation as a distinctive fibre artist who uses traditional basketry techniques to transform foraged plant fibres into sculptural works.
She uses the process of observing nature to inspire her, and the work offers glimpses of shapeshifting natural forms, from unnoticed branches, leaves and seedpods into shapes that celebrate the abundance of nature.
By transforming organic material into sculptures, she is investigating the battle humans have between controlling nature and seeing themselves in harmony with it.
Ms Pollard was awarded the 2021 Northern Beaches Artist in Residency, has exhibited extensively in selected and group exhibitions and has been shortlisted in art awards including Environmental Art & Design Award, Ravenswood Women’s Art Prize, Northern Beaches Art Prize, North Sydney Art Prize, Warringah Art Prize, Emerging Artist of the Year Craft NSW, Little Things Art Prize and Mosman Art Gallery.
Her work is profiled across major art and design media and is featured nationally in galleries, high end design spaces and private collections.
More information:
www.theartofweaving.com.au
Instagram: Catriona Pollard

[@Pedalpusher88]

You have shared your hope and I accept it and am grateful for it.

[@makeitwithalex4483]

Just gorgeous and almost spiritual