Art for Taykana 2025

Title: Lost Treasures: Once they’re gone, they’re gone forever

The rich, glistening forest litter at the foot of a Giant in the Tarkine rainforest looks like spilled treasure of gold, copper, and gemstones. Lying amongst the detritus are three feathers, representing three endangered birds whose critical habitat lies within the protective canopy of Takayna’s Giants. If this ancient native forest is logged, these feathers will be all that remains of the Swift Parrot, the Tasmanian Masked Owl, and the white morph Grey Goshawk. The value of the Gondwanan-age Tarkine/Takayna Rainforest, and all its flora and fauna treasures within, is priceless and must be protected from the sixth mass extinction event bearing down on the globe.

Pen & Ink, gouache, watercolour & metallic pencils & paints on A2 1000 gsm card. 60 x 80cm framed.

This is my artwork that will be for sale at the @bobbrownfoundation 's Art for Takayna exhibition in Hobart between 5th - 21st June 2025.

This video reel shows the long drawing process!

I was very fortunate to attend the @bobbrownfoundation 's Art for Takayna Artists' Residency in the breathtaking ancient Tarkine Rainforest in NW Tasmania at Easter (17-21 April 2025).

All of us artists were overwhelmed by emotions.

For me, there was shock, anger, and grief at the extensive native forest logging (including right across the road from our forest camp!), and subsequent replanting of monoculture plantations and the invasive species invading them, the vast land clearance and irrigation run off for dairy farming, and the extreme levels of road kill of numerous native species on the roads all over the North-West.

Then I was melancholic and reflective arriving in Waratah - as so much of the landscape and native forest reminded me of NZ and made me homesick.

Then, camping in Pruana Forest I was at peace, forest bathing in the pristine rainforest, reconnecting with landscape and also in awe of the magnificent Giants at the macro level (nature's cathedral), and fascinated by the micro details of such a biodiverse ecosystem.

I was also inspired by my fellow artivists, the tireless camp volunteers, and especially the brave BBF members who are often trolled, threatened, and have their human rights violated by both the TAS Govt and vigilante members of the public.

Here are some pics from the nature journaling and sketching I did at Pruana (when I wasn't exploring McGowans Falls and glow worms!).