Carla Gottgens: Hi, my name is Carla Gottgens. I'm an artist from Naarm/Melbourne.

The artwork I'm creating for this year's exhibition is titled Memory Pools. The Trace-less theme made me think about the disappearing parts of our planet that we are eager to hold on to and prolong their existence.

There are a few components to this artwork. Firstly, the photographic panels. Secondary, the brick wall that is meant to resemble a well around the outside of the circle. The pool ladders are an extra bit of visual attraction.

The artwork will consist of five pools placed in the sand, a little like a rockpool, where you look down into it. The pools are mirrored photographic surfaces where you see your own reflection in the memory

Each photograph is taken as though you were looking upwards at the sky, so the artwork creates, I guess, a bit of a topsy-turvy optical illusion.

Thanks so much for watching and I hope to see you down on the sand at The Strand this year in July 2025. Thank you.