Technique, media, process
Jill Orr utilises a combination of performance, photography, video, costume and installation in the representations of her work. Orr professes her interest in creating distilled photographic images. Working in close collaboration with the photographer, she is simultaneously actor, director and producer in the narratives she constructs. “The photographic and video documentation is the artwork. This is where I believe I differ from most other performance artists who have not necessarily worked with images in mind as the final art work. Their concentration is often in the conceptual nature of the action. My work covers both,” Jill Orr explained. Helen Vivian further more stated that “Jill Orr is a fiery artist …show more content…
As well as the relationship between women and the environment, humanities relationship with nature and our cultural relationships. This is evident in, Between Somewhere and Nowhere, where Jill Orr looks at human behaviour, exploring society's obsession with authenticity, illusions and false ideals that we accept as truth. She further more focuses on humanities relationship with nature though our current behaviour and respect towards the environment. Though, Pain Melts Orr strives to create awareness for climate change, environmental problems and humanities little efforts to make a difference that will lead to our ultimate suffering. Finally, Jill Orr’s works are focused around the themes of humanities cultural relationships. For example, referring to the historical, political, cultural and ecological traces, Southern Cross – to Bear, performed on Mitre Lake, comments on life struggles, cultural loss and changes through habitation and farming.
Reoccurring symbols and meaning
Though out Orr’s performance, photography, video and installation her greatest reoccurring symbol is the use of the female body (her own).
Jill Orr’s practice uses the female body to identify with the natural environment. Her work, then is both Feminist and environmental. Ecological concerns were prominent in the 1970s/80s also. Often the twin concerns