Canberra Times exhibition review by Brian Rope: Spirits, Permeating Ecology and Poisonous at PhotoAccess look at nature in different ways

Combining photography, drawing and video projection, Poisonous investigates the microscopic world of Canberra waterways – a realm invisible to our eyes and critical to our survival.

This project navigates the complexities of the ‘health’ of our waterways and looks with awe and wonder at the molecular structure of minerals and microbes that are both toxic poisons and useful contributors to the ecosystem.

Huge charcoal drawings present layered and mirrored images of the waterways infrastructure in Canberra, bridges, storm water drains and the dammed Molonglo River that forms Lake Burley Griffin. Over the surface of these drawings I have projected video footage of the microscopic waterlife inhabiting these locations.