Story of the Piece: Guided

Some moments stay with you — not because they’re loud, but because they are still and full of meaning. Guided is one such moment, born from a quiet morning at Clifton Beach, where Michelle watched a mother dolphin and her calf arc through the water’s edge. The little one swam close, shadowing every turn. There was no urgency, no noise — just presence. Just trust.

Clifton Beach, with its calm bay and teeming shoreline, has long been a place of beauty and wild encounters. Rays, dolphins, even shovel-nose sharks and crocodiles pass through — reminders that the sea is both sanctuary and mystery.

In this piece, Michelle brings that world to life with a curve of driftwood chosen for its flow — its movement echoing the very waters where these creatures were seen.

The mother and calf are hand-painted, their bodies set in rhythm, as if carried by the same current. Below them, coral and shell from the local coast suggest a reef just below the surface — a place full of lessons, shelter, and story.

There’s something ancient about their bond, something every species recognises: the instinct to guide, to guard, to grow another being with love.

Guided is a quiet homage to the ones who lead us — who keep us safe as we find our way, and who show us, without words, how to move through the world with grace.

Materials: Driftwood, hand-painted dolphins, coral, shell, sand and resin

Dimensions: 44cm x 22cm

POA