Fanny Christie

Transition explores the future of the hidden streams in Dundee. The main streams in the city such as Gelly Burn, Dens Burn, Scouring Burn and Lochee Burn have been covered as a result of past industrial activities. The water from most of these burns was long ago diverted with lades and sluice gates to power the steam engines and cooling plants of the textile and jute mills. The installation raises awareness of these covered streams, and provokes thoughts about their future and their value to the community. The work presents a vision in which people from different sectors work together to restore a hidden water source to its natural open condition. The title 'transition' refers to a sustainable strategy in urban water management. The layers of reclaimed slates characterize the various aspects of folklore and life of those living close to the streams. The broken slates on the right symbolize the uncovering of the culvert, and the many smaller fragments downstream depict the running water. The Dundee watercourses and the footprint of their flood plains form the outline of a dragon head drawing. The grey lines in the centre focuses the four main hidden streams: Gelly Burn, Dens Burn, Scouring Burn and Lochee Burn (clockwise from top). The work was installed with the poem 'Dragon' by Dawn Wood at the Hannah Maclure Centre in October 2011.

In 'Transition', cupped hands suggest integrating efforts from many sectors in uncovering the water. The hands are cast in pewter. The material is historically used in drinking vessels, with which the artist utilize to make a link to water.

In 'Transition', the broken slates and steam evaporation on the right symbolize the uncovering of the culvert.

Meandering III features a curtain of fallow deer antlers to suggest a herd grazing, unaware of being targeted by the hunter. The installation is a response to the poem 'The Silver Stag.'

Leap III (aluminum, perspex) Leap III focuses on the flow of the salmon's movement as it struggles upstream on its homeward journey. The red water drop expresses the adverse conditions of its habitat and return journey.

Leap III (aluminum, perspex) Leap III was installed at Snowdrop Festival, Cambo Estate, Fife in 2011. The work focuses on the flow of the salmon's movement on its homeward journey.

Flying Crane (bricks, cement) 2m x 5 m The sculpture is a part of the Grassroots Public Art project in Armadale, West Lothian, 'Inspired by Zen' in which Fanny Lam Christie regenerated the community neglected green space. The concept of the garden is based on the idea of the crane landing at Mayfield, a symbol of good health and longevity in Zen thought. The 'Flying Crane' highlights the area's industrial past by featuring material and processes from the remaining local factory. Led by the artist, the community engraved designs and names onto clay to form the sculpture.

Tsuru (reclaimed bronze) The work features two crane birds in the Crane Island. The young crane enjoys its perch on the rock while the mother bird provides supervision, a linkage to the idea of the garden as a family relaxing space. The casting process refers to the area's foundry heritage.

Bonsai (reclaimed bronze, sycamore stump) The sculpture 'Bonsai' is a metaphor for the town regeneration process.

'Inspired by Zen' Sculpture Garden 'Inspired by Zen' is a Grassroots Public Art project in Armadale, an ex-mining town in West Lothian, in which artist Fanny Lam Christie was commissioned to design and create a sculpture garden. The objective is to provide a relaxing and creative green space for the user groups to enhance health and well-being. The project took 7 months. Extensive consultations with community groups took place in May 2010 as well as creative workshops with adults and children. Three designs were submitted to the Mayfield Committee and the final design was approved in July. The garden welcomed the Spring 2011 with a fantastic display of colours. The concept of the garden is based on the idea of the crane landing at Mayfield, a symbol of good health and longevity in Zen thought. Elements of the garden are asymmetric and yet well balanced. Three sculptures Flying Crane, Tsuru and Bonsai grace the garden and bring out the area's distinctive heritage.

'Inspired by Zen' Rock Garden Zen garden is characterized by symbolism. In this green space at the front of the Mayfield Community Centre, the artist uses the setting of local whinstones to symbolize the Scottish isles of Mull, Staffa, Skye, Orkney and Hoy.

'Per Ardua' meaning striving for higher level and beyond through adversity. The bronze sculpture is based on observations and study of salmon leaping at Buchanty Spout, River Almond. Not many made it up beyond the fall and some were pushed back further than where they started. Visually, the movement is incredibly strong, graceful and rhythmic.

'Blanket' is made with delicate paper porcelain. Each element is linked to form a 5m wide blanket. The work highlights a particular species of lichen, Evernia prunastri, which is used as an index for assessing clean air. The thriving lichens testify the woodland's contribution to air quality.

Still Winter I (Paper porcelain smoke-fired) 2010 The installation at Heartwood reflected the prolonged wintry conditions in Spring 2010. Fragile porcelain butterflies hang on rowan branches with uneven wings scorched by fire. Not a flower in sight yet. Was it hungry? Was it dying?

Still Winter II (reclaimed bronze) 2010 The woodland environment of Heartwood influenced the work. The bronze piece juxtaposes with the fragile porcelain creatures on the branches highlighting the prolonged severe winter conditions into Spring 2010. The butterfly is reduced to its shiny veins. Why so lethargic? Was it just drowsy?

'The Alternative' - bronze and leaf mould installation at Society of Scottish Artist Exhibition 2010

Surge (bronze) / Surge (bronze verdigris) The bronze sculptures Surge and Rhythm are based on observation of the water flow and the study of the salmon leap at River Almond. The work captures the movement and evokes the feeling of tremendous energy which was generated by the flipping of fish tails in the water.

Upstream sculpture series at Fanny's Open Studio Exhibition 2009, alongside her paintings. The Upstream series explores the salmon's movement, its relentless struggle upstream and the increasingly adverse conditions in its homeward journey. It includes installations at different sites and a series of sculptures. Fanny uses a mechanical nuts and bolts construction system to link each movement, to reflect the interdependent relationship between man and fish. The sculpture project is inspired by the LIFE-nature Atlantic salmon conservation project, to restore the salmon habitat in eight major rivers in Scotland – the Dee, Spey, Tweed, Tay, South Esk, Bladnoch, Oykel and Moriston.

Upstream at RGI, Glasgow 2008 (bronze) H35 x W80 x D50 cm

Upstream II (bronze) H18 x W18 x D42 cm Upstream IV (bronze) H18 x W50 x D25 cm

Upstream III (bronze) H43 x W55 x D30 cm Upstream V (bronze) H18 x W50 x D25 cm

Converge (bronze) W34 x D20 x H34 cm The sculpture is an architectural commission for the extension of the building in 2006 at Beil Park, Dunbar, situated by Beil Water. The area had historically been an important fishing community and the concept is based on the movement of a shoal of fish at the centre of a pool of water. Fish are a symbol of abundance in Chinese culture and represent good Fung Shui (harmony with the wind and water).

'Clear Fell' (clay smoke-fired, log, water) water installation at solo exhibition Nature Unbound 2006 at Eskmills, Musselburgh The installation reflects changes to the locale, both in the past where trees were felled, and in the present where the mill buildings have been restored and woodland areas regenerated to provide green and tranquil surroundings.

Clear Fell Moving 'lilies' in the reflection of Eskmills

Rooted (reclaimed bronze) 2009 The work explores the notion of nature as amenity.

'Storm II' bronze installation at Visual Art Scotland exhibition 2007

'Storm' bronze sculpture - N. S. MacFarlane Charitable Trust Award 2006 at RSA exhibition

Fell 2006 (video 2 min 59 sec) A video still The video captures industrial logging with a twist. It reverses the dramatic logging action of the machinery showing trees being planted, and leads viewers to ponder the balance between felling and planting.

'Flux' installation at Houndwood, Berwickshire.

'Flow' - bronze and smoked fired clay sculpture hightlights the intensifying phenomenon of climate change.