Sarah Jones
Fair weather friends stay in touch

This work talks about becoming aware of my ‘island life’ as a young woman.

I moved to Tasmania 4 years ago, I had never been here, not even for a holiday. My partner and I began building our house on Bruny Island.

In four years I have become acutely aware of issues of isolation: making a home on an island, off an island, off an island. Leaving friends and family on the mainland to do so, has been as difficult as it has liberating.

In many ways, it is isolation that makes Tasmania the incredible place that it is. Living here is re-discovering space; and human impact upon that space, but also Tasmania’s impact on humans.

One of the first things I noticed about ‘Tasmanians’ was their constant, conversational reference to the weather. It is more than polite small talk here; it is an affinity with space and place deeply ingrained in Tasmanian Culture.

Hobartians are reminded everyday of the fragility and power of their island home as they watch the weather creep over the peak of Mount Wellington.

This work is a portrait of my integration in to Tasmanian culture.