Seagull (April)

Wye River flows into the sea. Shoso Shimbo has assembled two sculptures from fire ruins for the Lorne Biennale. A black gate of burnt rafters and posts stands on the beach. Also a spiral of found objects – Maori koru – attracts swimmers and passers-by. He has emu-walked the hillsides for remains: melted wheelie bins, fused bed-springs, scalded kettles, handle-less hammers, buckled buckets, twisted pipe, mangled hose, scorched sinks, blackened bottles. A seagull, oblivious to April and art, inspects the riverbend. He has grey feathers, black-lined wings, reddish beak and legs. Soon he will be off somewhere else, in search of food.