Carbon Obscura

Initially conceived in 2007 for an installation in the greenhouse at Montsalvat as part of Structure Place and Space curated by Tony Tembath the work enchanted the audience and various versions followed.

In this series of works, Godman created darkened spaces and materialized animated images of trees in the dark interior by piercing thousands of tiny pinholes into the opaque membrane that keeps the light out. But the pinholes allow light to leak in.  Each pierced opening acted as a pinhole camera and not only allowed light to penetrate the space but also projections from the world outside. These were interactive installations where the audience triggered a fog generator as they entered a darkened space and fog filled the space with rays of light streaming through the waves of mist. The artist constructed various versions of the Carbon Obscuras in France, Morwell, Canberra, and Federation Square in Melbourne. Carbon Obscura was a key aspect to part of the Sustainability Festival at Kernot Hall, Morwell, Victoria in 2008, a major part of VIVID the National Photography Festival 2008 in Canberra, and a centrepiece of ReGenerating Community Arts, Community and Governance National Conference 2009 in Melbourne.

The concept behind the work lies in the process of trees using light and photosynthesis to capture carbon. With the audience triggering the fog generator, it suggests we are responsible for our emissions.