Natural History

Exhibited
2006: Stills Gallery, Paddington NSW

2006: Queensland Centre for Photography, Brisbane QLD

2006: Johnston Gallery, Perth WA

2006: Centre for Contemporary Photography,Melbourne VIC

Natural History #2

Exhibited

2007: [MARS] Melbourne Art Rooms, Port Melbourne VIC

2007: Stills Gallery, Paddington NSW

2008: Johnston Gallery, Mosmon Park WA

2009: Hugo Michell Gallery, Beulah Park SA

Natural History

 This work depicts a number of animal species in artificial environments. Increasingly we live in modern societies where we are detached from the natural world. The encounters with animals that we do have are often in zoos or museums. This work seeks to amplify the artificial nature of these encounters and to prompt reflection on the impact we have on other animal species and their habitats. The title Natural History refers to the scientific study of animals and in this case refers to the public displays of animals found in natural history museums around the world. Scientists have revealed that the world could lose up to half of its species by the end of this century. It seems we are destroying habitats so rapidly, that some animals and plants are failing to regenerate and so reducing biodiversity.

This work depicts a time in the future when a number of different animal species have been lost or are under threat in the wild. As more and more animal species continue to disappear, this work provides a space where we can reflect on the diversity of the animal world and our relationship to it. The animals in this work have been photographed in zoos, agricultural shows, museums and animals sanctuaries around Australia.

Three images from the Natural History series have been purchased by the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Art Museum with the assistance of The Betty Quelhurst Gift. The images purchased are Study of a lion: Panthera leo, Study of a calf: Bos taurus and Study of a swan: Cygnus bewikii.

Natural History was reviewed by Alasdair Foster in Photofile (Australian Centre for Photography publication), where he said: "Seductive as these images are, the message they bring us is sobering and urgent."

Natural History #2

Natural History #2 is a series of images depicting animals in artificial environments. The images explore our relationship with the animal world. Increasingly we live in urban societies where we have little or no contact with the natural world. When we do encounter other species it is usually in zoos or museums. This work seeks to amplify the artificial nature of these encounters and to prompt reflection on the impact we have on other animal species and their habitats.

A number of the species depicted in the work are considered under threat or endangered. Some of these animals include: the Cassowary, Tiger, Shark, Loggerhead Turtle, Rhinoceros, Dugong, Polar Bear, Sting Ray and Langur Monkey. Other images depict domesticated animals that have a somewhat closer relationship to the human race. These animals are “cultivated” for human needs and often kept in restrictive environments.

A UN Millennium Ecosystem Assessment in 2001 found that “over the past 50 years, humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in any comparable period of time in human history. This has resulted in a substantial and largely irreversible loss in the diversity of life on Earth.” This work seeks to reflect on this ongoing decline of biodiversity around the world and our relationship to it.

Bibliography:

Alasdair Foster, "Death becomes them", Photofile, Australian Centre for Photography, Sydney, December 2006, issue no: 79, p 57

City of Perth, "2006 City of Perth Photomedia Award", exhibition catalogue, October 2006

Arena magazine, "Photo Essay", Arena magazine, Melbourne, issue no: 85, October 2006, p 17

Steven Bevis, "Winners and Losers", Arts Review, The West Australian, Perth, 2 October 2006, p 6

Sandy Edwards, "Art and About 2006", exhibition catalogue, City of Sydney, October 2006. [Study of a Goat]

Anthony Davies, "Photography gets the right exposure", The Australian, Melbourne, 13 September 2006

Nyanda Smith, "The artist who shoots animals", The West Australian, Perth, 26 July 2006 [PDF 104 kb]

PSN Editorial Staff, "The artist who shoots animals", Photoshop News online, United States, 27 July 2006 [photoshopnews.com]

Western Suburbs Weekly, "Artist's animal artifice", Western Suburbs Weekly, July 2006, p 22

Pip Christmass, "Rooms with a view", The West Australian, Perth, 21 July 2006

Martin Smith, "Natural History", Queensland Centre for Contemporary Photography, exhibition catalogue, Brisbane, 24 June 2006

Robert McFarlane, "Plenty of surprises", The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, 4 April 2006 [PDF 367 kb]