Edge of the Trees

"Edge of the Trees" is a captivating installation piece crafted by artists Janet Laurence and Fiona Foley, proudly exhibited at the Museum of Sydney since 1995. This remarkable artwork comprises 29 vertical pillars fashioned from a mix of materials, including wood, steel, and sandstone, and incorporates organic elements and sound components. It has garnered multiple awards for its profound representation of the site's cultural and physical history.

The primary aim of "Edge of the Trees" is to explore the past, highlighting Indigenous perspectives, themes of displacement, and the land's history. It symbolizes the interaction between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people at this historically significant site of first contact. The artists bring these concepts to life through their thoughtful use of materials, naming conventions, and mapping techniques, evoking memories related to botany, the Eora people, and Colonial times.

Laurence and Foley were invited to create this installation to complement the Museum of Sydney's architecture and cultural significance. Foley's Aboriginal heritage played a crucial role, providing authentic cultural insights and materials that a non-Aboriginal artist might not have been able to offer.

The pillars themselves are an intriguing fusion of wood, steel, and sandstone, embedded with organic materials such as human hair, shell, bone, feathers, ash, and honey. They also feature the names of botanical species in both Latin and Aboriginal languages, as well as signatures of the First Fleeters. The 29 vertical poles represent the 29 Aboriginal clans around Sydney, encouraging viewers to engage closely with the installation's rich textures, engravings, and soundscape.

"Edge of the Trees" offers a sensory and spatial experience, inviting audiences to touch, feel, and listen to the layered histories and memories interwoven into the artwork. It's an immersive journey through time, bridging the past and present in a truly unique way.