Sea Stacks

‘Sea Stacks’, 2024
Christabel Wigley
Oregon, Sisal Rope, Castors and Audio system
110 x 640 x 350 cm

Following my recent artist residency at Police Point, Pt Nepean/ Monmar on Bunurong and Boone Wurrung Country, where I focused on field recording and photo/video documentation, I have created a series of smaller sculptural works titled “Sea Stacks.” These pieces emerged directly from my time spent in residence and serve as a precursor to a more comprehensive project planned for 2025. “SEA STACK” is a sculptural exploration of time, culture, and natural forces. The piece is carved from an Oregon slab, a material that itself holds layers of history. This work captures the relentless layering of cultures and epochs, much like the geological processes that shape our coastlines. Accompanying the sculpture is a soundscape that immerses the viewer in the auditory experience of the ocean. A constant baseline represents the ocean’s enduring presence, while foreground sounds echo those heard inside the sea cliffs at Police Point, Pt Nepean – Monmar, adding a sense of place and history. The sculpture sits on a trolley, symbolising how we carry memories, stories, and experiences with us, much like the souvenirs we collect along our journeys. This movement reflects the way these personal and cultural layers accumulate over time, shaping our identities just as the waves sculpt and transform sea stacks into enduring markers of nature’s relentless power.