Mel Gras
Is there a life for fish here?
$3500, or $300-$500 for individual fish

120 x 90 x 40cm

This work pays homage to the history of Long Cove Creek, now the Hawthorne Canal. Urban development over the last two centuries has drastically transformed these once mangrove-lined pristine natural waterways. Local fish such as Bream, Mulloway, and Tailors continue to instinctively return to their natal streams to breed, with their young feeding and developing in the tidal flows before venturing into larger waters. The greenway restoration re-establishes a natural habitat for flora and fauna that is vital for them and many other species. This work highlights the interconnectivity of such projects with nature and emphasizes the importance of healthy local waterways. Through ceramic sculptures, it shows an aspect of the ecosystem and diversity of the Greenway often unseen, and what it could be when recovery and balance are considered in a revival of our local waterways, allowing nature and urban life to coexist harmoniously.