JOHN DAVIS’ work Koan 64 was recently acquired by the Geelong Gallery. Beautifully pictured here in their exhibition Turmoil & Tranquility, which ran earlier this year, this piece was highlighted once again thanks to National Science Week.
Davis’ practice incorporates a diverse use of materials and provides unique interpretations and representations of landscape and ecology. While still characterised by the use of inexpensive or found materials and low-technology processes of his earlier work, Koan 64 presents a philosophical perspective and a deeper concern for the state of the world.
John Davis’s practice from the 80s and 90s foreshadows contemporary environmental issues. He was particularly concerned with the devastating impact non-indigenous people were having on the environment, particularly in regards to the health of the Murray River system and the quality of water due to modern human practices such as irrigation and land clearing.
For any art teachers following, Geelong Gallery has prepared an excellent learning resource for Levels 5-9 Visual Arts which includes this work and highlights themes such as human impact on the environment, sustainable farming and globalisation.
John Davis, 'Kōan 64', 1994, twigs, calico, bituminous paint, cotton thread, 2378 x 150 x 7 cm. Photo by Andrew Curtis.