Where Lakes Once Had Water, an exhibition that is audible as much as visible, features a large-scale, dual-screen 28-minute video work Where Lakes Once Had Water (2020) that transports us to remote ancient dry lakes of Australia's Northern Territory. In 2018 and 2019, the artists travelled with a team of Earth scientists who were investigating changes in the climate, landscape and ecology in the Northern Territory. Their journey took them to the remote, ephemeral Lake Woods, to Nitmiluk/Katherine Gorge and to Girraween Lagoon— to the lands and waters of the Mudburra, Marlinja, Jingili, Elliot, Jawoyn and Larrakia communities.
The exhibition also features three new sound, video and sculptural works. Sound Before Sound I: One and Three Scores (2022), Sound Before Sound II: Auditioning the Archive (2022), and Sound Before Sound III: Lyrebirdity (2022) explore sound, landscape and the archive.
Sonia Leber and David Chesworth: Where Lakes Once Had Water
TarraWarra Museum of Art
Wurundjeri Country, Healesville, Australia
30 July to 13 November 2022
Curator: Victoria Lynn
See Project Page