Girt By Sea is an ongoing collection of map-logos of Australia. The collection is composed of objects and photographs, and is displayed as a digital archive and in other formats including collages or assemblages. The Girt by Sea collection was created out of a fascination with the shape of Australia, the ubiquity of this shape in Australian visual culture, and the frequent use of the shape in brand identities. Much of the collection is sourced from product packaging and signage. Unlike other ‘Australian’ iconography such as the southern cross or the national flag, the shape of our island(s)-nation has not been co-opted by any ideology, and its contours are readily and broadly deployed. The Girt By Sea projects focused initially on our familiarity with the shape of Australia; our eyes’ consistent exposure to it through a variety of media was alluded to in the form of long-exposure solar photograms. More recent projects focus on the country’s shape as a reminder of our nation’s island-ness (reinforced as an idea in the Australian national anthem), and the border policies that have led us to engage with other island-nations in the Pacific and elsewhere.
Image: Sean Rafferty, Nauru (2020),100 x 100 x 10cm, specimen pins, mixed media, cardboard, foamcore, plywood, timber and acrylic cover. Photo: Louis Lim
