Phil Hall

As we sit contentedly sipping on our bottles of boutique water contemplating the drought and the future sustainability of Melbourne’s water resources. Perhaps we can spare a thought and a few dollars for those millions around the globe who are increasingly and quite literally, dying for a drink of water. The skull in this artwork is both a reference to the common sights in the Australian outback of animal bones in a dried up waterhole and the iconic artwork of Damien Hurst. Our challenge at this point in human history is to develop sustainable living systems for all of our planet’s inhabitants whose bodies are mostly made of water. Appropriating to some degree an artwork worth many millions of dollars and utilising recycled water bottles for the purpose seemed to be a relevant and potentially poignant way of delivering a very important message in a bottle.

“Water is life

diamonds are just hard shiny stones

if you only think of yourself

you’ll always be alone

Our planet is our life

That’s why we call it our home

If you only think of yourself

You’ll still end up as bones.”