Voices speak from trees at this year’s Rookwood Cemetery sculpture trail
In the old part of Rookwood Cemetery, among the daisies and gravestones you can hear voices coming from the gum trees.
The Express
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In the old part of Rookwood Cemetery, among the daisies and gravestones you can hear voices coming from the gum trees.
The voices come not from ghouls, but from gourds.
It’s part of a sound installation from Earlwood artists Alessandro Berini and Selina Springett called Shades, and one of 45 artworks taking part in Hidden, a sculpture trail through Rookwood Cemetery.
It’s a different venue for Berini and Springett, who have won a number of awards for their work at Scenic World in the Blue Mountains and Rockdale Outdoor Gallery Art Exhibition — but a very “humbling” experience.
“Spring has pushed up all the blossoms so it’s a really meditative place and certainly adds another layer of meaning and gravitas,” Springett said.
From the hanging gourds come the voices of 12 Earlwood residents, reading burial rites in various accents — a nod to the 90 different cultural groups and religions of those buried at Rookwood.
“The idea is that words still speak even if we’re not here anymore, they live past our lifetimes and have a life of their own,” Springett said.
Now in its eighth year, curator Cassandra Hard Lawrie said the idea of Hidden is to bring people back to burial grounds.
“In the Victorian era, cemeteries weren’t as taboo and we seemed to have lost that connection,” she said.
“So it’s about trying to connect people again with cemeteries and see it not just as a place to grieve but a contemplative place with history, heritage and culture.”
The free exhibition will run from September 23 through to October 23.
Ms Hard Lawrie said the 46 artists had come from as far as Victoria and Queensland to be a part of the event.
“It’s just wonderful to see so many artists with unusual concepts come forward so we are able to offer yet another unique Hidden exhibition this year,” she said.
Next year, Rookwood Cemetery, which is the resting place for notables such as David Jones and John Fairfax, will mark its 150th anniversary.
For more information about Hidden go hiddeninrookwood.com.au
Hidden Dates
Sept 23: garden launch party, sculpture award, 3pm
Tours: Sept 25, 11am; Oct 8, 1pm and Oct 14, 11am
Photo workshop, Oct 1, 11am-4pm
Meet the artist, Oct 9, 2pm-4pm
School holiday workshops, Sept 27-30, Oct 4-7, 10am-4pm
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