Heather Horrocks and Karenne Ann present exhibition at Art Gallery of Ballarat

The Ballarat local has been crocheting for about 70 years, but in recent years she has taken a centuries-old habit in a completely new direction by substituting wool for old tape.

The innovative creative has teamed up with photographer and multi-disciplinary artist Karenne Ann to present collaborative exhibition Effacement as part of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale.

Heather said her foray into the brave new world of crocheting video tape was borne out of environmental activism.

She had just watched a BBC drama called Edge of Darkness with music by Eric Clapton. The film incorporates the idea that the world will end when black daisies start to grow.

Heather decided she would start crocheting black daisies as gifts to her friends as a reminder of the urgent nature of the climate challenges the planet is currently facing.

"As a baby boomer, I think we've done the most damage of any generation. I think we owe it to the planet to be kind when we can," she said.

So with the idea in mind, Heather set about finding the right material to use in order to fashion her daisies.

She started out by trying to find some black thread, but there wasn't a lot of it about. It was while visiting an op shop and noticing the abundance of old videos for sale that the left field idea of using the black tape for her art struck her.

While inspiration struck her suddenly, the process of refining her methods was a much more laborious process.

"It's (using the tape) really very difficult. (in ways) it's almost indestructible... it will stretch (without breaking).

"But if you put a pin through it, or any sort of puncture, it loses its strength and integrity altogether, so I have to use it more as a thread."

She said while there were times the work was so difficult she felt like giving up altogether, the results were so beautiful she persevered.

But it's not a method she recommends to other knitters and crocheters.

"It's very stiff and very unyielding, pretty tough on the hands and fingers, and I think it's quite toxic, I wouldn't eat my food off it," she joked.

In time, she moved away from the daisies and started making vessels such as containers and bags due to the material's sturdy nature.

It was during the height of COVID that she realised the importance of having her work photographed, so she contacted long term friend Karenne.

She made a Nostradamus mask - sometimes referred to as a plague doctor mask as a joke. But when Karenne suggested she put it on so she could photograph it, it started a whole new collaboration the two artists collectively refer to as IsoYoh.

The fashioning and photographing of the masks has allowed the two artists to offer commentary on a range of issues, from the war on climate change, to the war on COVID and the war on women. One particularly confronting mask is designed to represent a scold's bridle, a horrible implement that is somewhat reminiscent of a Hannibal Lecter mask and was historically used to silence women.

"I think it's still difficult for women to have a voice in the public sphere," Heather said.

"It's changing, but it's still difficult to avoid hearing words like 'she's whingeing', or 'she's a harridan'.

"I'm part of the rock 'n' roll, hippie generation, and that doesn't go away just because you get old.

"The miracle is we've changed so much, and it's women who have changed the world for themselves.

"I watched the Matilda's last night and thought it's just wonderful. Women are playing sport and they are playing it beautifully."

Effacement opened at the Art Gallery of Ballarat on August 12 and will remain on exhibition until November 19.

The exhibition features larger than life photographic images captured by Karenne Anne featuring Heather wearing the masks, distorting the identity of their maker.

For more information click here.