Rock a Little
My practice engages with key social and philosophical questions about the arts and sciences of mining. More specifically, here I have selected artworks that reference mining-induced seismicity. For example, my sculpture Rock a Little, is created from a geological core sample that has been cut in half lengthways. Core samples are cylindrical pieces of rock created during extractive drilling in mining exploration. The words Rock a Little are hand engraved into the cut flat surface. Resting upon its curved base, I invite viewers to activate the work, by pressing the edge. Setting the work in motion causes it to rock to- and fro- until eventually slowing to a complete stop. Participating in rocking the work serves to mirror on a micro scale the human hand in mining that has the potential to cause earthquakes on a macro scale.
Lee Harrop is a PhD candidate at Charles Darwin University. She has a Master of Fine Arts, First Class Honours, from Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design, New Zealand. Her recent artworks offer a representation of mining to be considered alongside wider global discourse surrounding mining and its environmental impact.
Artwork by Lee Harrop in sliders:
Upper
Down to Earth (2021). Hand engraved geological core sample from the Goldfields, Yilgarn Craton, WA. 37 x 5cm 1.8kg.
Tremble (2021). Hand engraved geological ½ core sample, from the Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. 18.2 x 5 x 2.5 x .48kg.
Rock a Little (2017). Hand engraved geological ½ core sample (xenolithic basalt) from the Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. 28.5 x 5 x 2.5cm x .65kg.
Rock Star (ii) (2017). Hand engraved geological ½ core sample from the Yilgarn Craton, WA. 2.5 x 22.8 x 5cm x .55kg.
Thousands of corpses (2019). Rhythmic limestone, Tindal Lime-stone (Middle Cambrian ~520–495 Ma), Daly Basin, NT. From drillhole NTGS 86/1;(629.48–636.05m) -14.16247, 131.39842. Sourced from NT core library. From Still Lives: a beautiful science project.
Lower
Warning – Facts (2019). Embossed hard cover handcrafted stitch-bound book, digital print on 190g lustre paper, rock specimen from core sample, clamshell box with embossed cover, 21 x 21 x 1.2cm.
Rock a Little (2017), Rock Star (ii) (2017), Tremble (2021). Hand engraved geological ½ core samples from the Yilgarn Craton, WA.
Pillar-stone (2019). HyLogger spectral data – Left to right: Log screen Normal hull quotient; Linescan imagery; Normalised temperature controlled reflectance – Geological core sample, cored drillhole NTGS 86/. Tindall Limestone, Daly Basin, sourced from Northern Territory Geological Survey, Australia.
Copyright Lee Harrop, courtesy the artist.