MAGNIFICATION
THOUSANDS OF YEARS, BIOMIMICRY AND THE STATE OF CHANGE
Yagan Mia Wireless Hill Museum - Perth, Western Australia
5th September 2021 - 10th October 2021
A Research, Art Residency and Nature Survey Exhibition supported by
City of Melville, Perth, Western Australia
Wireless Hills Museums, Perth, Western Australia
Melville Museums, Perth, Western Australia
Exhibition Event part of INDIAN OCEAN CRAFT TRIENNIAL -IOTA21
By Nidia Hansen
Perth, August 2021
Art, science and nature have been intertwined in human history since old ages. Imitating nature whilst adapting its functions and systems has been the way to help ourselves, evolving and improve our lives in countless aspects. Nature in its evolution create stages of change, same it has been for human progression, where the inner and external transformations are influenced by their close environment and by distant cosmic effects.
The origin of similarities between art, science and the nature’s systems, are found in the need of adaptation through periods of resilience and survival modes. These are precedents in a course of actions to reach balance, flow, harmony and self-expression, but mostly, to hold enough capacity to set a stage of synchronicity within the self and the environment.
The nature at Wireless Hill, Yagan’s Mia Lookup, has inspired me to create artworks that reflects the significance of its biodiversity, as well as to examine through nature, these relevant times in a worldwide pandemic. A pandemic that is a stage of change, in an evident and temporary chaos, a catalytic moment in human history that has many similarities with metamorphic stages that also occurs in nature.
Inspired by Wireless Hill, the artworks that I present with this exhibition, are the result of more than two years of research, observations, photography, comparative examination, the creative process and a meditative contemplation of the intersections between art, biomimicry, science and nature. Along with this, the perils and art journey through a pandemic and the inconveniences of an extra-large studio area.
The research allowed me to find that Wireless Hill has been for thousands of years and important place for Wadjuk Noogar Beeliar people, who used the plants of the site for food and medicinal purposes. Many of the site species are part of the South West, a world biodiversity hotspot. I learned about the site colors, the patterns, its soil and the eternal night sky canopy; and how all of them are intertwined.
The thousands of years of making by nature of this site with significant biodiversity, and cultural importance, came nearly to an end during the clearing of the site for war telecommunication purposes, and the more than 50 years of annual recurring burnings. With the considerate care of local authorities and people, the nature once again, took support from its micro structures, the systems, and the inner strength, to transform a stage of threat into a rebirth, as testimony for positive change from survival.
Beyond the beauty from flowers and other species, I felt intrigue on how I could interpret through the taxonomy of biomimicry and magnification, artworks that could illustrate a moment in time, the universal scale of nature, it’s cycles, the unnoticeable and the resilience; as well, to observe and accept the simple shapes that many times, are overlook by the evident beauty of flowers.
The diverse of artworks that I present, came from asking to nature and interpreting its way. I hope the viewers can feel the joy, the immense generosity from nature that I felt during this time, and feel inspire to look nature with new eyes while being part of this second human renaissance. Humans we are just one more specie more, but the only one that can lead to a catastrophe or a remarkable step.
Exhibition Catalogue
Special Thanks for this exhibition
Gina Capes, Exhibition Curator and Manager for City of Melville Museums
Peter Stone, City of Melville Creative Producer
Yvonne Doherty, Visual Arts Officer & Art Collection Curator at City of Melville
Dra. Silvia Lozeva, School of Social Science, Anthropology and Sociology The University of Western Australia
Dr. Noel Nannup, Dr. Eddy Wajon, Dr. David Knowles, Kaitlyn Elswood Art
Kelly Pilgrim-Byrne, 7 to 1 Photography
Paul Hansen, For his unconditional support and believer of my visions
Exhibition Artworks
About the Public Program – Magnification
The Magnification exhibition was deeply connected to its setting at Wireless Hill (Yagan Mia) — a site rich in biodiversity and over a thousand years of cultural significance. This land has long been a place of gathering, observation, and care for the Whadjuk Noongar people, the Traditional Custodians of the area.
The exhibition honored that legacy by offering not only artworks, but a series of community programs that invited deeper connection to the themes of transformation, biomimicry, and the living cycles of nature.
Through a curated program of talks, workshops, and activities — from wildflower exploration and nature photography to cultural interpretation, children's fabric printing, and biomimicry discussions — the exhibition became a shared platform for learning, creativity, and environmental awareness.
These events complemented the artworks and enriched the public experience, fostering a meaningful exchange between contemporary art, ancient land, and community engagement.