A SOUND sculpture that weaves interviews from immunodeficient Canberra families about their responses to the pandemic with music inspired by the stars was unveiled yesterday (September 6) at the University of Canberra Hospital’s front entrance.

“Reticulum” is the first sculptural work by Canberra musician Michael Sollis, founder of the Griffyn Ensemble and known for his work in competition, performance and music education with Musica Viva.

“Reticulum” is the third in a series of works commissioned as part of the ACT government’s Creative Recovery and Resilience Program, with projects by photographer Sammy Hawker and print artist Alison Alder preceding this one.

The metallic sculpture, concealing sound equipment, is etched with delicate drawings of objects from space, many by Sollis’ young son Bryn, who was on hand to explain what he had drawn.

Sollis’ approach was to weave together interviews with immune-compromised cancer patients and their families and music inspired by the stars and the landscape of Mount Stromlo.

Reticulum is in fact the name of a small, faint constellation in the southern sky whose name derives from the Latin for “a small net or reticule” but also refers to the crosshairs of a telescope used to measure star positions.

Sollis said that 18 months ago, in the midst of treatment for bowel cancer, it would have been impossible for him to imagine standing before his first public artwork.

Like many of the people interviewed, he said, he had used arts and creativity to create something positive, giving a collective voice to immune-deficient people, who he said suffered from “an invisible illness.”

“Creativity can be really powerful advocacy,” he said.

“Reticulum” by Michael Sollis maybe viewed at the outside the front entrance of the University of Canberra Hospital, Guraguma Street, Bruce, until further notice.

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