The electrical resistance of plants in Launceston’s John Hart Conservatory is generating buzz ahead of the city’s upcoming street art festival, ‘Thoroughfare’.
Thoroughfare is a free, full-day celebration of street culture, creativity and connection which will be held in Launceston on Saturday, March 28. From 11.30am to 9pm, the city will be filled with art, skateboarding, music and food, turning familiar streets into places to hang out, explore and discover something new.
Tasmanian artists, Maggie Jefferies and Alex Moss, are already at work inside City Park’s recently restored John Hart Conservatory on a unique work for Thoroughfare. Their immersive installation uses the living plants inside the historic conservatory as its inspiration and medium.
Using a custom device that measures the electrical resistance of plants, the artists are capturing the unique bio-electrical wavelengths of the foliage and transforming them into a dynamic audio-visual experience. The data captured drives sound design and generative evolving visuals that are projected across three large panels and surrounding plants within the conservatory.
Mr Moss said the John Hart Conservatory was an incredible location to create a public artwork.
“It’s an amazing space to have this as our studio for the next two weeks,” he said.
“We’re both interested in plants and noticing the intricate details, watching the play of light on the leaves, and being in a space that’s affected by the changing daylight.
“It’s the most perfect and immediate living canvas to do the kind of work we’re doing.”
Ms Jefferies said the artwork was literally taking its inspiration from the plants within the conservatory.
“By listening to the ‘voices’ of the plants through their electrical signals, we’re creating something that feels alive and deeply connected to the space” she said.
“It’s a bit of a fusion of science, nature and art, all coming together in what we hope will be a really connected experience for people.”
Mayor, Matthew Garwood encouraged Launceston residents to mark Thoroughfare into their calendars.
“Thoroughfare is going to be an incredible day in Launceston with this amazing free event,” Mayor Garwood said.
“While St John Street in the CBD is going to be the main hub for the festival, there will be spokes all over the place including this work by Alex and Maggie in City Park.
“Throughout the day, artists will create large-scale murals across key locations including Tatler Parade, Centre Way, Dicky Whites Lane and Quadrant Mall.
“There’s going to be live music from incredible acts like Sumner and Queenie on the main stage in St John Street.
“And to keep everyone fuelled up, there will be a variety of World Street Eats food and drink stalls.
“It’s a really unique opportunity for people to see large-scale public art being created right here in Launceston by some of the country’s most talented artists.”
