SAMMY HAWKER

How does a space communicate? What exists in ‘empty’ space? Topographically, a harbour (noun) is a holding space – a body of water protected from the wind, waves and ocean currents that churn beyond; deep enough to allow anchorage. To harbour (verb) is to keep a thought or feeling, especially secretly. Sydney harbour is a holding space of secrets and memories; the residue of its history saturates its bays, banks and depths.

Processed with water from the harbour, the analogue photographs in this exhibition resonate with the memories that exist within. They tell of the dark violence of colonisation, the dendritic pattern of the harbour’s sunken river valley, the fig trees that line its shores and the icy comets & grains of solar dust that formed the Earth’s oceans.

space/speis/-noun
based off definitions in the Oxford Languages Dictionary.

1. A continuous area or expanse which is free, available or unoccupied.

2. A blank between words.

3. The physical universe beyond the Earth's atmosphere.
   The near vacuum extending between the planets and stars containing swall amounts of gas and dust.

4. An interval of time.

5. The freedom to live, think and develop in a way that suits one.

6. The appearance of depth in a painting or photograph, even though it only has width and height.

The works in this exhibition were created during a 3- month artist residency at Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf (Gadigal & Birrabirragal Country). This residency was supported by artsACT. An article about the residency was published by ABC Arts here.