eI have been back in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia this year and have been saddened by the bush fires that have occurred there, and in the Upper South Island of New Zealand. What struck me, after listening and viewing media coverage, that the news covered human and agricultural losses, but very litttle attention was given to the flora fauna that had been extinguished.
I visited the Melbourne Museum to view an exhibition on the 10th anniversary of The Black Saturday series of bushfires that were unprecedented due to extreme weather conditions. Unfortunately the Exhibition hadn't opened, but I was dismayed at seeing a Koala called Sam that was rescued from the bush fires and although treated for burns, subsequently passed away.
After a short sojourn into the country side and a visit to the animal sanctuary,Healseville, to see amazing animals that I hadnt heard of before ( Squirrel Glider, Northern Quoll, Hopping Mouse ) I returned to New Zealand with an aim to make an Artist's Book that hightlighted the plight of the forest ecosystems.
I visited the Melbourne Museum to view an exhibition on the 10th anniversary of The Black Saturday series of bushfires that were unprecedented due to extreme weather conditions. Unfortunately the Exhibition hadn't opened, but I was dismayed at seeing a Koala called Sam that was rescued from the bush fires and although treated for burns, subsequently passed away.
After a short sojourn into the country side and a visit to the animal sanctuary,Healseville, to see amazing animals that I hadnt heard of before ( Squirrel Glider, Northern Quoll, Hopping Mouse ) I returned to New Zealand with an aim to make an Artist's Book that hightlighted the plight of the forest ecosystems.
Sam, the Koala at the Museum
Back to New Zealand and time in the studio producing elements:
Playing with fire to emulate fire!
The finished book and clamshell bookcase.
Artist's Staement:
The encased book is reminiscent of an artifact retrieved after a forest fire. The book titled “Extinguish” is a response to the loss caused by forest fires both globally and recently in New Zealand.
Media coverage is often focused on human inconvenience and the economic loss of trees, while little is reported on the loss of habitats and the associated inhabitants.
A forest is more than the trees. The trees provide the structure of a forest, but also the relationships between the flora and fauna are intrinsically linked to form an ecosystem.
Artist's Staement:
The encased book is reminiscent of an artifact retrieved after a forest fire. The book titled “Extinguish” is a response to the loss caused by forest fires both globally and recently in New Zealand.
Media coverage is often focused on human inconvenience and the economic loss of trees, while little is reported on the loss of habitats and the associated inhabitants.
A forest is more than the trees. The trees provide the structure of a forest, but also the relationships between the flora and fauna are intrinsically linked to form an ecosystem.
Bookcase and book
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