Flooded Rose Red Basin

Flooded Rose Red Basin is a ceramic installation by Yasmin Smith that references the rapid development changing the rural landscapes of China. Smith’s process is underpinned by the burning of plant material to create glazes, which she applies to her casts of plants. The minerals, nutrients and toxins remaining in the ash are evidence of natural changes in the environment and human intervention and provide fascinating colour and textural variations. Ci zhu bamboo was collected from the Shiyan village, in Jiajiang County, Sichuan Province, known for its tradition of bamboo papermaking. Segments of the bamboo stems were cast by the artist at the Jinhui Ceramic Sanitary Ware Factory in nearby Wuchangzhen, in collaboration with the workers who usually produce toilets and sinks. The matt finish and sand-like deposits in the bamboo glaze are caused by the silica in the ash that did not melt during firing.

These objects are presented alongside casts of Eucalyptus grandis, a species endemic to Australia, commonly known as the ‘Flooded’ or ‘Rose’ gum. The high amounts of iron and manganese in the gum ash produce an amber/olive coloured glaze. Eucalyptus was first introduced to China in 1890 as an ornamental plant and from the 1950s large timber plantations were established. Gums are also planted along roadsides and farmland to stabilise soil erosion. As they excel at absorbing water and nutrients, however, the trees leave reduced supplies for the surrounding agricultural vegetation.

In Flooded Rose Red Basin, Smith elegantly reveals the ecological, cultural and economic history of bamboo and gum trees and, in turn, the distinct connections between Australia and China. Bringing together two iconic plants, the artwork highlights the tension between local and introduced species, more broadly implicating the climate emergency that each nation must address.