We Asked Dearne Dettrick 12 Interesting Questions About Herself.
What was the inspiration behind your piece for SWELL Sculpture Festival 2023?
There are a few inspirations for my SWELL work ‘Dune Daisy’. They are the resilence of beach vegetation, the delicateness and transience of blossoms blooming at the start of Spring and sunlight.
What was your first artwork? How did it inspire you to grow?
My first piece worked with super thin paper. I looked for ways to give it strength and I discovered my fondness for simple forms, pattern and repetition, also a love of construction. I recognised my themes of fragility and connection which continually inspire my work.
What was your favourite moment of 2023 so far?
An email from SWELL Sculpture Festival advising ‘Dune Daisy’ would blossom this Spring on the shores of Currumbin.
If you were stranded on a desert island, but food, water and shelter weren’t an issue, what are the 3 things you would take with you and why?
Music to move and paper and graphite pencils (a magic endless source), I’ve always been a doodler.
What is your favourite meal to cook when trying to impress someone?
Vegetarian Asam Laksa. Spicy, sweet and sour, a complex yet balanced mouthful.
SWELL is all about connecting people, art and place, how does your work help connect people, art and place?
Sunlight and sand connect ‘Dune Daisy’ to place. Scale and a sundrenched moving shadow invites viewers to connect with their body: look up to nature, trace the path of the sun’s movement, sit in the cast golden light. People, art and place connect.
Who is an artist that inspires you to create?
Olafur Eliasson’s use of light and scale mesmerises me.
Do you have a favourite song you like to play when working on your art?
I like to work in silence and let my mind wonder.
If you could choose any, what superpower would you want?
My superpower of choice would be the ability to manipulate time, slowing down those special moments.
Where were you born, where are you living now, and how does where you live affect your art?
I was born in Brisbane but grew up one foot in the sands of the Gold Coast. I still live in Brisbane with that foot firmly in my southern neighbour. This city/ beach duality shapes my art through a balance of robustness and fragility.
Do you have a party trick or impressive icebreaker talent?
No tricks or talents just enjoying party vibes.
If animals could talk, which one would you want to talk to?
I would like to ask a Chameleon how it feels to change colour and if any particular colour feels best.
