Self-Guided Trail: Seeds of Change: Self-Guided Tour
Work 5 of 12

A pioneer of abstract sculpture in Australia, Margel Hinder began her investigation of abstraction through the making of Earth woman. The simplified, geometric rendering of a nude derived from nature – metaphorically and literally – also indicates Hinder’s early interest in the theories of Vitalism, an artistic movement engaged with non-rational concepts of the vitality of all matter and which often associated women with the forces of nature. The image of a strong and healthy female figure, kneeling with eyes closed and hands pressed tightly against her head, exudes the feeling of compressed energy contained within a solid form. Furthermore, the chiseled textured surface creates a flickering effect of light and movement. This ability to visually express intangible ideas and sensations defined the artist’s life work.

Earth woman is carved from a single piece of ironbark, a common name for a variety eucalyptus species known for their dense wood and durability which were used for many building projects in early Australia such as wharves, bridges and railway sleepers.