Following the Burringa Survey Exhibition in Feb 2008 and theCarbon Obscura in the entrance way, an opportunity came to propose a larger Carbon Obscura for the Sustainability Festival at Kernot Hall, Morwell, which later became a reality. More information about the proposal is available here.
The work looked to address the following issues.
1. an exploration of the history of the Latrobe Valley and how coal was created in the area – the drawings at the rear of the tunnel would reference fallen trees – as the structure narrows in both height and width there is a physical sense of pressure – this relates to the pressure needed to create the coal. As the tunnel appears to disappear into the ground there is also a sense of the trees being buried. The tunnel also references the tunnel of a conveyor belt that transports coal to the power generation plant.
2. a navigation of the current situation in regards to greenhouse gases and climate change – Plastic sheeting is derived from carbon – Black carbon particles in the atmosphere tend to block certain rays of solar radiation that are implicated in the process of water evaporation and the formation of rain. However they also absorb radiation as heat and transfer it through the atmosphere. This will become evident on the interior of the structure, which will be significantly warmer than the outdoors yet darker. The pinhole drawing will also reference the energy use of the urban environment, trees as carbon sinks. The fog activated by the audience reference the emissions we each produce that contribute to global warming. From certain perspectives, the structure of the tunnel is also reminiscent of a greenhouse grow tunnel – which references the greenhouse effect.
3. an opportunity to play with ideas for our future in regards to energy generation and use - with the exclusion of sun light and the controlled penetration of some light through the thousands of pinholes, there is an awareness of the power of solar energy. The significant heat transference through the black plastic also indicates the potential of solar radiation.
The concept for the darkened structure was based on a cooling tower for the Coal burning power plants in the LaTrobe Valley. It seems ironic - apparently these towers use 1/3 of Melbourne's water as a cooling device. The tower was vertically dissected which allowed a flat surface to mount the door.
The second tail section was based on a coal tunnel that tapered off, so from inside the spaces appeared much longer .
This is a drawing of the structure where the final dimensions were
Length 10.5m long
Height 4.2m
Width 4.1m
An animated drawing illustrating the assemblage of the tunnel section - this animation was developed for a Carbon Obscura proposal for Kempsey Shire in July 2009 but was postponed to 2010 due to flooding in the area.
Once the proposal was accepted - the structure was preassembled at the Baldessin Press, St Andrews
Herman Ritzinger and Lloyd painting the wooden components of the structure at St Andrews.
Herman Ritzinger and Lloyd laying out the base plates
The base plates in position with the first Poly pipe rib in place.
all the ribs for the tunnel section in place with the lateral braces in place.
all the ribs for the tunnel section in place with the lateral braces in place.
Formation of the tower section - constructed on the ground and to be lifted vertically later.
Looking from the tower section towards the tunnel
Tower with the door in place
Tower section lifted to a vertical position and fitted to the tunnel
View from the tunnel towards the tower section
Side view of tower and tunnel sections
The tower section - the structure was disassembled and transported to Morwell
Beginning the reassemble process at Morwell - The gallery organized a group of local youth to help with this task
