Whilst I was doing my Artist in Residence at Tweed Regional Gallery last month, I worked on a series of prints for an exhibition of artworks and science outcomes from the BioBlitz.
The works that I created during my residency explored the idea of mandalas as metaphors for the connectivity of the natural world. The Wikipedia definition of mandalas is:
"A mandala is a spiritual and/or ritual geometric configuration of symbols or a map......In modern, typically American use, "mandala" has become a generic term for any diagram, chart or geometric pattern that represents the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically; a time-microcosm of the universe, though it originally meant to represent wholeness and a model for the organizational structure of life itself—a cosmic diagram that shows us our relation to the infinite, the world that extends beyond and within our minds and bodies."
I have interpreted and drawn my mandala to represent the cycles of life within the rainforest ecosystem, with a sun icon at the top of the mandala as a representation of the importance of light within the rainforest. All of the plants in a rainforest grow in accordance with their ability to access sunlight; the size of their leaves, the way they grow and use other plants to help them penetrate the canopy.
Incorporated into my mandalas are some of the insects from the rainforest, with monotypes of rainforest leaves in the background. The layering of imagery in my prints tells the story of the interconnection of rainforest ecology.
These prints and others are currently being exhibited as part of the BioBlitz Exhibition at the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve until 12 January. All of the artists that participated in the BioBlitz have work on display based on their experiences at the BioBlitz. There is also very interesting information on the results of the scientific studies and a fantastic video documentary filmed during the BioBlitz. Free entry! 9am to 4pm. I will be onsite some of the time, running a fun drop-in activity for adults and children.
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| Part of the exhibition |
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| My work, part one. |
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| My work, part two! |
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| Jono (one of the artists) and I with the amazing trophy "2019 Banksia Sustainability Award - Government' won by Sunshine Coast Council for the BioBlitz |
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| The Rainforest Mandala print - Longicorn Beetle |
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| Rainforest Mandala - Dung Beetle |