Country : Australia
Materials : Slate, marble, iron, smalti, copper, antique glass
Dimensions : 30 x 30 cms
I salvaged damaged slate tiles from the Royal Mint in Melbourne years ago and had always pondered their journey from Wales to Australia in the 1860s. The evolution of slate mining in Wales had exploded during the Industrial Revolution, and improved technology enabled slate to be shipped all around the world. The main circle in my mosaic uses that Welsh slate. I’m hoping my work conjures up a feeling of the harsh conditions quarrymen endured on the face of the slate terraces. The copper is a nod to the copper nails used traditionally to secure slate roofing tiles.