In Bloom is a living sculpture that invites consideration of the often uneasy relationship between nature and industrial ‘progress’. Here, 11 bronze-cast car tyres are stacked in a seemingly random arrangement to form a planter.
Following previous iterations in Aotearoa New Zealand, this is the first presentation of In Bloom in Australia. The artist has collaborated with La Perouse-based Aboriginal-owned social enterprise and native plant nursery IndigiGrow. Together, they have made a selection of critically endangered Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub species, found in the sandy coastal stretches of Dharawal, Bidjigal and Gadigal Country in Sydney.
In Bloom includes flowering species such as Dillwynia floribunda and Westringia, alongside edible plants, such as Karkalla. The artist hopes that seeds from the planting will disperse and regenerate back into the land from which they have been removed.
Following a presentation on the MCA’s Loti Smorgon Sculpture Terrace from 5 July to 2 October 2023, In Bloom (IndigiGrow)’s presentation has been extended on the Waterside Terrace located in front of the MCA’s façade.
Courtesy of the artist and STATION. Made with the support of Creative New Zealand and the University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha.
