River branches

River Branches represents a collage of elements referring to the significance of the Brisbane River and the flora and fauna of Queensland.

Each individual panel reveals a layering of three elements. The first traces topographical sections of the Brisbane River and its tributaries. The second element, embedded within the river lines, uses text quoting interesting facts and figures sourced from Queensland Museum publications. The third element, an overlay of individual multi-coloured forms from the natural world, acts as the dominant visual motif.

The forms were initially created from the process of ink blotting onto folded paper, a craft activity which is very familiar to children. The shapes resemble bats, cicadas, sea creatures, butterflies, dragonflies, moths, flowers and leaves, resulting from firsthand observation and research undertaken at the Queensland Museum.