Tending

Lucas and Diego's 'Tending' made me think about the communal backyard where I live in Newtown. It was established and is cared for by my neighbour (amateur Gardner) Stan; a retired Italian man in his 60s. He's generously made clear that everyone is welcome to make use of his fresh herbs/veg and enjoy the garden. It's become a place where neighbours interact with each other and relax.

Stan has no family in Australia and spends most of his time tending in the garden, I guess I've deduced that consequently as a migrant - Stan is making his 'foundations' in new soil. His gardening has somewhat helped to ground him and feel at home in a new country.

Andrew Sunley Smith addresses themes of loss and migration in 'Migratory Projects,' which is an exploration of Smith's own personal feelings of loss and belonging as a British migrant. Being quite an extensive project, other things driving the work are; consumerism, environmentalism, greed and accountability. A relevant component of the project is 'Trailer Garden project (2002-07)' where Smith has reworked a trailer into a mobile garden for the modern day migrant/nomad. So that gardens need not be left behind when people move. 'Trailer Garden Project' is also connected to a modified van ('Carrier') with similar concerns, it houses a sauna and roof-top garden. Smith states that these works explore the idea 'that we can only achieve a certain level of independence within dependence.'

http://www.sunleysmith.com/projects/trailergarden/index.html