The Water Carriers: Trans-formations explores connections between women, water, and reimagined myths in an exhibition of new sculptural ceramics by Claire Bridge.
Reframing the myth of Daphne, Bridge considers hybridity, adaptation, and queering of human and non-human relationships as strategies for survival and trans-formation. Daphne’s metamorphosis into a laurel tree and escape from Apollo’s relentless pursuit - becomes an act of ecological queerness and biophilic inter-being, challenging extractive, patriarchal narratives.
Women’s bodies, labour, and lives are commodified and disproportionately impacted by climate change and water scarcity. ‘The Water Carriers’ reflects on our environmental relationships and envisions possibilities for ecological renewal.
About the artist
Claire Bridge is a multidisciplinary artist working across sculpture, ceramics, painting and installation in Naarm, Melbourne. Her practice explores cultural and ecological hybridity, drawing out obscured stories and making visible human and more-than-human webs of connection.
Bridge’s work has shown in ‘Melbourne Now 2023’, National Gallery of Victoria, NGV Australia, Art Gallery of NSW, McClelland Sculpture Gallery and Art Gallery of WA. Her works has been selected for biennales and festivals including Beechworth Biennale 2024, The Big Anxiety Festival 2019, and toured nationally in Fecund: Fertile Worlds, 2019. She has been the recipient of numerous commissions including the FCAC/West Space Commission 2022, Hyphen- Wodonga Commission and awarded grants by Creative Victoria, Australia Council of the Arts (Creative Australia) and City of Melbourne.
Public collections include University of Melbourne (SAB), Collection of the City of Maroondah, Honorary Consulate of Monaco, and the Lunar Codex on the Moon.
ACCESS
Free street parking is available near all Kingston Arts exhibition spaces. Dedicated mobility parking spots are located at the main entrances of Kingston Arts Centre (G1 & G2) and Shirley Burke Theatre (G3).
G1 and G2 at Kingston Arts Centre are less than 200m from Moorabbin Station. G3 at Shirley Burke Theatre is less than 200m from Parkdale Station.
All venues have automatic doors and either flat or ramp access at their main entrances. The side entry at Kingston Arts Centre & Kingston City Hall also has step-free access.
Each gallery space provides all-gender, wheelchair-accessible bathrooms.
For more details and special requirements visit our accessibility page
We are committed to providing accessibility options for all our patrons. Please reach out to our helpful staff by calling (03) 9556 4440 or emailing if you have any queries.
Image credit: Claire Bridge, Trans-formation, 2024, glazed ceramic, 67.5 x 38.5 x 33 cm, detail.