Ruth Watson
Other worlds, 2018/2024
Galvanised steel, polystyrene, builders' cement, fibreglass, Resene paint
Globe 2000 x 2000 Stand 2557 x 996mm
What does it mean to question the representation of earth, and that
of other celestial bodies? Ruth Watson has been working with maps and cartography for over 30 years, exploring the range of perspectives and methodologies applied to the understanding of Earth.
After winning the Wellington Sculpture Trust’s ‘4 Plinths’ project, Watson had the opportunity to experiment at large scale, examining existing models of the earth, and of Mars. Other worlds was first exhibited on plinths bordering the forecourt of Te Papa
Tongarewa, Wellington, and we are delighted to present this captivating installation in an expansive natural environment.
As Watson describes, “the bulging white globe shows European space agency gravitational field data, the black globe is based on carbon sequestration data, the grey globe is derived from a 17th century religious view of the world without water, and the Mars globe is based on an early 20th century artefact demonstrating beliefs in a canal system, ‘evidence’ of a superior civilization.”
More from this artist
Artist Bio
Ranging from photographs, video and installations made from unusual materials, Auckland-based artist Ruth Watson’s work re-orientates maps and mapping processes.
Her work has been exhibited at the Stedelijk Museum, the Frankfurter Kunstverein, in the Sydney Biennale, Gallery of Modern Art Brisbane, Museums of Contemporary Art in Sydney and Zagreb, Asia Society Gallery in New York and Kunst-Werke Berlin. She has been the recipient of the Olivia Spencer-Bower Art Award, The Fulbright-Wallace Art Award, The Washington D.C. based Ristow Prize for an essay in cartographic history. She likes to travel and, unsurprisingly, many maps.
Watson was born in New Zealand and lived in Berlin between 1993–95, then moving to Australia between 1995–2006. She is currently based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
