WASTELAND/WONDERLAND
An interview with melanie hoult
We caught up with surfer and artist, Melanie Hoult, to talk art, nature, and creating an underwater wonderland from waste.
G'day Mel, thanks for talking to us. How do you describe yourself and what you do?
I’m an artist, surfer and nature nerd from the east coast of Tassie. I’m forever excited by spooky Gondwanian rainforests, Tassie folk lore, punk rock, graphic artwork and keeping our oceans clean!
What a mix! As a fellow punk rock fan, I’m interested in the influence of music in your art. Is it related to an ethos, other punk inspired art, or is the music evident in the actual physical mark making?
Definitely an ethos, I’ve always tried to push the line of what’s acceptable for girls vs boys, so skateboarding as a teen (even though I sucked) probably led me down that path. Skate affiliated artists like Michael Sieben and Ed Templeton have directly influenced my early art making, paired with the soundtracks from films like Baker 3, Really Sorry and the Tony Hawk video games. I guess Punk encapsulates a feeling of seeing, knowing and doing and gives me and my creative practice drive.
What project are you working on right now?
For the past two years I’ve been deep into a plastic waste odyssey project for Junction Arts Festival called 'A Whale Tale, Plastic Seascapes'. The project has many elements, but the main work is an installation of a plastic wrapped paradise, based on the idea (and fact) that by the year 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish! Using waste collected from our coastlines, myself, fellow project artist Natasha Low and students from two east coast schools have reimagined an oceanic world where sea creatures have plastic features!
What’s the most exciting thing about the project?
Whoever said don’t work with kids and animals is wrong, working with kids to make marine animals (out of beach plastic) was the coolest thing ever! Their creations are so inspiring, so for me that’s the most exciting thing about this project.
It was also an honour to work alongside Palawa author Adam Thompson, who wrote a children’s story linking our whole project together. I’ve always wanted to be involved in creating a children’s book so to have Adam come onboard was epic!
Speaking of kids, what book from your childhood are you most excited about sharing
with your little one?
My absolute favourite book was “How the Birds Got Their Colours” an Aboriginal dream time story told by Mary Albert. Moral of the story is: help a mate out. The crow did not and he didn’t get to be quite as fabulous as the parrots.
Paint us a picture of your ultimate outdoor experience.
Picture this.. finally resting your weary legs and having a bite to eat after a pre-sunrise climb. Eagles circle on up drafts filtering through wild valleys. You’re on top of the Iron Bound Range deep on the south coast of Tassie, watching perfect lines of swell roll in to the numerous deserted bays below. Azure sky and sea meet at a line along the horizon, broken only by Maatsuyker Island and the occasional cray boat. No other sign of humans exists, just you, your best mate (husband) and the occasional row of duckboards.
Native Tassie flora and fauna feature heavily in your art, so are you sketching while you’re out bushwalking? And if so, what materials are you using?
Nothing beats a campsite cuppa and sketch! I’m all about light weight so keeping it simple with pencil and paper is key for me. Often field sketches and observations inform my studio work, I find they’re more authentic and translate nicely with fine liners and fancy paper.
What’s your favourite Tassie nature fact?
Horizontal (Anodopetalum biglandulosum) is an endemic rainforest plant that is known to be quite a challenge move through because it grows, well.. horizontally. There are stories of walkers who have found themself navigating short distances only to realise the forest floor is several meters below and they are in fact on top of this thick impenetrable scrub!
What has inspired you lately?
Lately I’ve had the opportunity to work with numerous people who dedicate their life to protecting marine ecosystems, whether that be in a scientific, political or art space and learning to lead with a solution-based approach, especially when working with youth, has been really powerful and inspiring.
What do you reckon is a simple thing people can do today to help keep Tassie wild?
This sounds a bit typical but stop sharing secret spots on socials, or if you do, be a bit more ambiguous. Be it surf spots, forest huts or swimming holes. We’re so lucky to have these spaces and often it’s the ones posting who are the first to complain when it gets busy.
What are you most looking forward to doing as the daylight hours days stretch and a sometimes temperamental, but always beautiful, Tassie summer approaches?
I’m looking forward to getting some post-work ocean time. Evening surfs definitely keep our household happier, and help me to create with more clarity. The longer days allow us to venture further afield too, and we’re excited to let our little guy experience the sun rising on the east coast and setting on the west, something we’ve not done since becoming parents.
Thanks for chatting to us! Where can people go to stay up to date with all your projects?
My pleasure! I’m most active on Instagram and I post updates and recent work there [@melfidlerart]. We’re also currently on the lookout for a space to exhibit ‘A Whale Tale, Plastic Seascapes', so I’d say it's worth staying tuned. We’d love as many folk to see this show as possible!
Photo credits: Dawn surf by Claire Croker, 'A Whale Tale, Plastic Seascapes’ install photos by Simon Holmes.
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