Four Thousand Fish

Overview

This creative, interactive installation reimagines the days in 1790 when British colonists netted 4000 fish, far beyond what was needed for their consumption. This excessive over-fishing disrupted the delicate ecosystem that Aboriginal women had maintained for millennia, undermining their status as providers of sustenance for their community. To commemorate the resilience of the Warrane fisherwomen, audience members are invited to help symbolically return fish ice sculptures to the harbour, releasing them every weekend, between 4pm and 9pm, from a modern interpretation of a traditional nawi (bark canoe).

Image: Jamie Williams.