Blue Swimmer Crab

Date2018

Object number00055440

NameSculpture

MediumGhost net

DimensionsOverall: 52 × 280 × 270 mm, 162 g

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection

Terms

DescriptionSculpture of a blue swimmer crab made from ghost-nets by artist Lynette Griffiths. Ghost-nets are nets discarded by fisherman at sea that continue to float, often entangling turtles, dugong and other marine animals, before washing up on the shore. In northern Australia where the problem is acute, local, artists are using ghost-nets as a medium for highlighting the problem, creating stunning works of animals caught in the nets.HistoryLynnette Griffiths grew up living on a boat. Fishing, foraging, rock hopping and playing In rocky ocean pools and walking on reefs, beaches, estuary mouths, mangrove creeks and exploring island water courses. Much of her work revolves around the notion of predator and prey, her sensibility to the environment and the effects of human intervention and polullution are constant themes. Artists Statement: The Blue swimmer crab is common around the shores of Australia. You often see people with dilly pots out on the end of long jetties and piers catching them. In fact it was the first edible crab I ever caught on a hand line off some rocks in South Australia. I marveled at its spikey, angular yet delicate appearance. It’s beautiful patterns and beady pop up eyes. The wispy appearance of its cupboard-door like mouth. Crabs have always fascinated me; their relatively slow movement on land verses their extreme speed in the water. Growing up fossicking in rock pools and on sandy bars and stretches near estuary mouths I have watched caught and played with these creatures. Ghost crabs, rock crabs, soldier crabs, mud crabs, but the blue swimmer is elusive, fast and energetic and not a land crab. As scavengers all crabs have an important job to do and unfortunately they are often caught and killed prematurely as the by-catch of professional and an amateur fishermen netting along the bottom. SignificanceGhost net art creates an impactful vehicle for alerting the general public to the damage that ghost nets inflict on the marine environment.