Abstract
A chance encounter led Irish artist, Kevin Todd to begin investigating the convict ship Neva, which sank off King Island in 1835 while en route from Cork to Sydney. Only six of over two-hundred women and children survived, spending six weeks on the island before being rescued to serve their sentences in Tasmania. Kevin has developed an acoustic sculpture project to commemorate the women and the fortythousand men, women and children transportation for Ireland to Australia. As the art project progressed the need for accurate historic interpretation led to research at archives in Hobart, Sydney, London and Dublin and uncovering the story of the Neva women allowed Kevin to explore something of his own cultural identity; and possibly the reason for the art project in the first place. However, all is not what it seems with the Neva as there are contradictions in the account of the wreck, a mystery that is slowly unfolding to possibly reveal the truth. Using primary historic material Kevin will discuss the wreck of the Neva and what happens when you follow your art!