Textile, 540 x 54 cm, 2025
I hand patched 160 – 110 year-old Boro, “worn out” in Japanese which depicts Rintoul Creek where Galaxias, a native fish lives. Galaxias are listed as critically endangered animals by the EPBC Act. I use the Boro which is from my region in Japan to speak my concerns about Ecology juxtaposing the history of Rintoul Creek with Japanese and my personal history.
The first 2.3m of Boro patch demonstrates water reflections from their rich natural environments.
Later, vintage Western clothes appear telling the history of Salmonids launched by early European settlers which became predators for Galaxias. Around the same period Japan was forced to open its borders and Kimono culture was marginalised. My grandmother used to make rugs with Boro and the antique clothes and laces are from Paris flea markets which I bought during my fashion studies there.
Rintoul Creek and Galaxias are extremely vulnerable due to the recent bushfires. I lost my dearest uncle and aunt due to a fire a few years ago, which I expressed at the end of the Boro. This work is a conversation between me and the Galaxias in Rintoul Creek. The water in the bowl is from Rintoul Creek.