The Weighing of the Heart

2020-2021, Australian bushfire ash and epoxy resin

The Weighing of the Heart (2020-2021) is sculptural series of anatomically correct human heart sculptures cast from the ashes of the Black Summer, the most intense bushfire season in Australian history, which occurred from 2019-2020. Each heart measures approximately 11 cm x 8 cm x 9 cm and weighs about 400 grams.

*The Weighing of the Heart.* Thirteen Artists Awards exhibition, Cultural Center of the Philippines, 10 March to 5 June 2022, curated by Shireen Seno. Image by the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

PROCESS

A 3D print of human heart prior to being cast as a silicone mould.

Creating a silicone mould of human heart (left and centre) and pouring an ash and resin mixture into the airholes (right). Each heart has 1 teaspoon of the Black Summer.

Demoulding a resin heart sculpture (left and centre). The extra bits of resin shown in the middle image, which came from the airholes of the mould, are sawn off or removed by hand. The right panel shows the 3D printed heart and a demoulded resin heart.

The ash heart sculptures are polished with a sandblaster.

Polishing the sculptures with eucalyptus oil (shown) or sorbolene cream.

Post-demoulded heart sculptures. Left: a collapsed sculpture due to early demoulding. Centre and right: a heart sculpture prepared for a wall installation.

*The Weighing of the Heart* (2020-2021) series. Total number: 36 hearts. There is no significance as to the number of sculptures made.

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