The Journey to My First Sculpture

When I lived in Paris, one of my favourite places to visit was the Rodin Museum. I would spend hours wandering its gardens, mesmerised by the intricate sculptures and their exquisite depictions of the human form. One year, I was even lucky enough to have a friend who could sneak me in for free - a small act of kindness that gifted me countless quiet afternoons surrounded by beauty.

I was always deeply drawn to sculpture as an art form. Yet, creating something myself felt like a distant dream - a “one day” item on my list. I had the desire, but not the idea or the opportunity.

That changed last year, when my heart broke. My mother-in-law, Robin, passed away. Though technically my “in-law,” she had been a mother to me in every way since the day we met.

As Robin’s health declined, I became fixated on the image of a nest. It came to represent care, holding, and love - a place of rest and nurturing. I longed to create a nest for her, to show how deeply she was loved, and to return to her the comfort she had always given so freely.

Robin was one of my greatest supporters, always encouraging my creative journey. I wish she could have seen today - the day I installed my first sculpture on the foreshore in Rockingham, as a finalist in the Castaways Sculpture Awards.

In many ways, this piece is for her: a nest of strength and softness, built from love, loss, and the courage to finally begin.

Lost in Connection was created using recycled wires and aluminium strips - welded, woven, and intertwined. It reflects on renewal and reconnection in a digital age, while also marking my own personal journey through grief. As a creative, the act of making is how I make sense of loss, how I heal.

Through weaving the cables, I found myself reflecting on all the ways we are connected - the countless platforms available to us - and yet how much still goes unsaid, how easily our messages can become lost in the sea of communication…

The sculpture will be on display among many other incredible works at the Castaways Exhibition at Rockingham Foreshore from 25 October to 2 November 2025.