Taking a Chance on Love

BACKGROUND This work is recognized as a key floor based sculptural installation in Weaver's oeuvre. Significant ongoing conceptual and technical concerns are investigated in this speculative work that presages climate change and the decrease of biodiversity in our ecosystem. Experimentation with innovative found materials and their application for sculpture including nylon fabric cut and sealed with high frequency sound waves is unique. As the earliest installation selected by curators for this exhibition it provides the context for a number of other artist's works to be considered. CONTRBIUTION This work was presented following a formally planned and stylized layout. In this most recent exhibition (2015) the work was presented as a distinctly different installation. In arranging the various tree branches, animal models and found components more naturalistically across the carpet support I noticed the installation becoming more 'ad hoc', accidental and spontaneous. The placement of forms related less to my original intention for the work highlighting traditional craft and textiles within a formally structured and aestheticized space instead inferring aspects of random "natural phenomena" and implying a sense of "wildness". This research and new knowledge has directly informed my recent experimental paintings that explore accidental chance occurrences in the production of fields or 'skins' of paint, highlighting the transient and imperfect as positive and desired attributes. SIGNIFICANCE Samantha Comte and Mark Feary curated 'A Selection of Works from the Michael Buxton Collection' at Bendigo Art Gallery. Co-exhibitors include, David Noonan, Hany Armanious, Ricky Swallow, and Mikala Dwyer. Weaver's sculpture 'Taking a Chance on Love' is featured in this exhibition and was selected for the cover of the catalogue, national press and gallery education program. It was awarded the prestigious Rigg Design Award (Textiles) The Ian Potter Centre NGV Australia 2003.

一、背景概述
该作品被公认为韦弗（Weaver）创作历程中极具标志性的地面装置雕塑作品。这件前瞻性创作探讨了诸多兼具概念深度与技术难度的核心议题，率先预警了全球气候变化与生态系统生物多样性锐减的危机。作品创新性地运用现成品材料进行雕塑创作，其中以高频声波切割并封合尼龙织物的工艺尤为独特。作为策展方为本次展览甄选的首件装置作品，它为后续展出的多位艺术家的作品提供了阐释语境与参考框架。
二、创作贡献
该作品最初以严谨规划的风格化布局呈现。而在2015年的最新展览中，该作品以截然不同的装置形态展出。当我将各类树枝、动物模型与现成品组件更自然地排布在地毯基底上时，装置整体愈发呈现出临时即兴、偶发随机与自发随性的特质。造型的排布不再契合我最初的创作意图——原本意在将传统工艺与纺织品置于规整且经过美学包装的空间中凸显其价值，如今却转而烘托出随机的“自然现象”特质，传递出一种“野性未驯”的氛围。这项研究与新的创作认知，直接启发了我近期的实验性绘画创作：后者探索绘画场域或“绘画表层”创作过程中的偶发随机事件，将转瞬即逝与不完美视作值得追求的正向特质。
三、作品意义
萨曼莎·孔泰（Samantha Comte）与马克·菲利（Mark Feary）在本迪戈美术馆（Bendigo Art Gallery）策划了“迈克尔·巴克斯特收藏作品甄选展”。联展艺术家包括大卫·努南（David Noonan）、哈尼·阿曼尼奥斯（Hany Armanious）、里奇·斯卡洛（Ricky Swallow）与米卡拉·德怀尔（Mikala Dwyer）。韦弗的雕塑作品《为爱冒险》（*Taking a Chance on Love*）入选本次展览，并被选为展览画册、全国性媒体报道与美术馆教育项目的封面作品。该作品曾于2003年斩获澳大利亚维多利亚国立美术馆伊恩·波特中心（Ian Potter Centre NGV Australia）颁发的极具声望的里格设计奖（纺织品类）。