Myth of Wilderness

I live in the ‘bush capital’ and feel privileged that a few minutes from my home lies vast tracts of stunning, open grassy woodland. Coupled with living near the bush, means the regular threat of bushfire.

Critiques following the devastating 2020 bushfires focused the spotlight on land management and the ‘myth of wilderness’. Ideas of ‘pristine’ landscapes (untouched by human hands) from the mid-20th century were subsequently enshrined in conservation-focused legislation in the 1970s-1980s. These ideas were blind to indigenous land management practices and enabled a build up of fuel-load in “wilderness” areas making the country vulnerable.

My practice examines patterns in human behaviour and thinking. For this work, I have used macro-photography of natural elements from near my home and digital pattern-making to challenge thinking, assumptions and paradigms.