giant botanical installation by loose leaf transforms a former church hall in australia

artists wona bae and charlie lawler, known together as ‘loose leaf studio’, have collaborated with photographer sean fennessy and the establishment studios in fitzroy, australia, to create their latest ephemeral work. located within a former 19th century church hall, ‘proximity’ is a site-specific installation that uses an array of leaves to explore the role of nature and its interaction with the built environment.

all images courtesy of loose leaf studio and photographer sean fennessy

the botanical sculpture’s form has been envisioned by loose leaf to play on ideas of scale and space. the green leaves engulf the surrounding white columns, appearing as if they are surging upwards, spilling over the floor and set to overrun the building. ‘our work isolates nature from its context and explores this interconnected relationship between the natural and built worlds,’ says lawler. ‘from the moment we saw the space we were drawn to create something – a dialogue between the architecture and the artwork.’

bae and lawler have collaborated since meeting in germany in 2004, establishing loose leaf studio in melbourne, australia in 2013. loose leaf is known for their experiential and concept-driven installations and for presenting natural materials as provocative sculptural art in urban spaces. the artists’ work explores themes of life and death, impermanence and the human-nature relationship.

project info:

project name: ‘proximity’

project location: the establishment studios, fitzroy, australia

artists: loose leaf (wona bae and charlie lawler)

photography: sean fennessy

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom