A Naval Novella
Single channel HD film with stereo sound · 7′ 11 · 2013 · Edition of 10 + 2 AP
3 photographs · Edition of 10 + 2 AP
Related work: Study for Dazzle
A Naval Novella I · photograph · 2013
How do you begin to understand what life’s like for someone working in the armed services? How do you ask personal questions of someone trained to kill? Someone who, on meeting you for the first time, instinctively thinks about how they would disable you.
These are the questions Sylvia asked herself when she was commissioned to create a work for the Royal Australian Navy’s 100-year anniversary of sailing into Sydney Harbour. As part of this commission, she was embedded with the Navy at the naval base, HMAS Penguin.
A Naval Novella II · photograph · 2013
A Naval Novella I · photograph · 2013
A Naval Novella is a film featuring interviews, physical workouts and anecdotes. The work demystifies the Navy by breaking down some of the barriers that exist between elite Naval personnel and civilians. It shows the human side of the Navy and invitingly allows people to access this closed culture. The work is anchored by the naval tradition of tattoos and gruelling physical training that uses rope.
For the Navy, the rope is a symbol of union, mateship and stability. For the viewer, tattoos are symbols of humanity and individuality.
Trailer · A Naval Novella · 2013
A related work created during this residency in collaboration with Anne Zahalka is Study for Dazzle. This work would see thousands of military personnel and civilians lying side by side on an Oval creating a 120m long Naval ship in WWI Dazzle camouflage.
For collectors
A Naval Novella is available as a single-channel HD film and 3 photographs. Works are a limited edition of 10 + 2 AP and start from €3,000 unframed.
Enquire about this workFor galleries and curators
A Naval Novella is available for exhibition, screening and loan. Proposals and studio visits are welcome.
Discuss an exhibition