Douglas Fuchs (1947-1986) was an American fibre artist and teacher who came to Australia in 1981 on a Crafts Council of Australia Fellowship.

'Floating Forest' is a monumental work, containing seven woven totem forms, a variety of other fibre constructions and three large figures of hand-made cast paper. One figure, covered in paperbark collected in Arnhem Land, rests in a dream canoe. A menacing nightmare tableau also appears in the environment. This fibre environment relates closely to Fuch's own early sense that something was wrong with his own body, the meaning of which became clear to him when he was diagnosed as having AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) in 1984. (1)

The environment was constructed in the second half of 1981 at the Jam Factory in Adelaide from a wide range of natural indigenous Australian plant fibres. Work began in July of 1981 and was completed by mid-November. During construction, various people dropped into the Jam Factory studio and lent a hand. Hossein Valamanesh collaborated on a number of the major pieces and Kay Lawrence, Pat Grummet, Georgia Clarke and Elena Gellibrand also helped at various stages in assembling the units (2).

The sculpture was commissioned by the Australian Crafts Council as part of Fuchs' creative Fellowship award. During his Fellowship, Fuchs also taught contemporary basketry and investigated the basket making of Aboriginal Australia. 'Floating Forest' was exhibited at the Adelaide Festival Centre Gallery, the Meat Market Craft Centre in Melbourne and the Crafts Council Centre Gallery in Sydney during 1982.

Purchase 1991

(1) Douglas Fuchs, 'No immunity: One artist's nightmare confronts us all', Craft International, Vol 5. April/June, 1986.
(2) Douglas Fuchs, 'Floating Forest Exhibition', Craft Australia, Spring, 1982/83.

A note on the object file states that manufacture of the sculpture began in late July 1981 and was completed mid November 1981. During construction, various people dropped into the Jam Factory studio and lent a hand. Hossein Valamanesh collaborated on a number of the major pieces and Kay Lawrence, Pat Grummet, Georgia Clarke and Elena Gellibrand also helped at various stages in assembling the units.

Notes on the object file state that Douglas Fuchs created the work at a studio at the Jam Factory in Adelaide. The work was installed at the Adelaide Fesitival Centre Gallery, then transferred to the Meat Market Craft Centre in Melbourne and finally displayed at the Crafts Council Centre Gallery in Sydney.

Sculpture, environmental, 'Floating Forest', fibre / wood, Douglas Fuchs, Adelaide, 1981.

A large sculptural installation constructed from various natural organic fibres and consisting of approximately 20 separate elements (29 parts). A wide variety of sculptural techniques plus traditional basketry techniques including plaiting, twining and looping have been used in construction of the work. Most of the components are life size or larger the installation is intended to be a free standing display covering a large area of floor space. Each component bears its own title.

Designed: Fuchs, Douglas; Adelaide, South Australia

Designed: Jam Factory Craft and Design Centre; Adelaide, South Australia

Made: Fuchs, Douglas; Adelaide, South Australia; 1981

Made: Valamanesh, Hossein; Adelaide, South Australia; 1981

Made: Jam Factory Craft and Design Centre; Adelaide, South Australia; 1981


Used: Jam Factory Craft and Design Centre;

Used: Adelaide Festival Centre Gallery;

Used: Meat Market Craft Centre;

Used: Crafts Council Centre Gallery;

91/1863

960 mm

3630 mm