17A. Grass Tree

Artwork number: 17A
Artist: Geoff Fortescue
Description: Metal sculpture 550H x 450W x 220D mm of a Grass tree situated in a circle
Artist statement: By replicating the iconic Western Australian grass tree (Xanthorrhoea) in hand-crafted metal, I seek to capture the enduring spirit of a plant that has defined our local landscape for millennia.
The Western Australian grass tree is a symbol of survival, designed by nature to endure both intense wildfires and punishing droughts. Recreating its organic form using rigid, industrial metals creates a powerful paradox. The thousands of thin, needle-like fronds that traditionally soft and swaying in the wind are transformed into sharp, permanent lines of steel and wire. The thick, blackened trunk, which in nature bears the charred scars of past bushfires, is reimagined through the transformative heat of welding and texturing metal.
This sculpture serves as a tribute to the unique biodiversity of Western Australia, urging viewers to appreciate the beautifully fragile, yet indestructible force of our natural heritage.