Water Traces - making the invisible visible_documentation video_LR

A site responsive land art project by Danae Stratou in Western Australia, 2023

Water Traces – making the invisible visible is a site-responsive land art project inspired by underground streams which, like veins coursing beneath the earth’s skin, flow silently underneath our feet.

In a gesture of acknowledgment of people who contemplate the interconnectedness of our planet and its consciousness, the work invites viewers to participate. In a continuous journey of healing, this ephemeral artwork connects with the earth, gently carving paths through the pasture thus unveiling the soil beneath. It is an intricate process which not only allows the land to breathe but also reveals the subtle network of waterways beneath the surface.

19 underground water streams were mapped by the artist by using ancient divination techniques, thus unveiling a journey that begins from The Farm Margaret River’s 31 hectare property extending 5.6 km in total. The work comprises a soundscape, a live map and 8 steel markers adorned with three coordinates: where you stand, the location in which the stream exits the coast, and the waters ultimate destination. These markers serve as anchors, grounding and eternalising the ephemeral artwork in the physical landscape. As one walks these pathways following the map, one may listen for the lively murmurs of creek lines, the nocturnal whispers of creatures dwelling in the serene waters, and voice blending by Wardandi custodian Mitchella Hutchins. The visitors are invited to navigate this immersive art work via the designated website water-traces.org by downloading the QR code found on the markers on their smart phone.