My first-name, 'Tessa', is a diminutive of 'Theresa', derived from the greek word 'to harvest'; whilst my last name, 'Eden' is of Hebrew origin meaning 'pleasure' and carries biblical connotations of the Garden of Eden. Combining these concepts formed the idea of Eve 'harvesting' the apple, ultimately leading to the destruction and 'harvesting' of the entire Garden of Eden.

This piece explores both the etymology of my name and, using the Garden of Eden as a metaphor for Earth, ideas of humanity's corruption, destruction and pollution of the environment. In particular my sound piece draws attention to deforestation through the use of chainsaws and axes accompanied by the high-pitched ring of a bird call which, stretched and distorted, symbolises the consequential suffering of animals. The majority of the sounds were recorded in the Wollongong Botanic Gardens, a sanctuary and modern 'Garden of Eden', though even these sounds are backed by unnerving man-made hums, representing Adam and Eve's presence in the beginning, and foreshadowing the consequences of their actions.


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