My entry for the Academy of Design Australia 'Space Exhibition', my Artworks reflect on the absence of space and life, exploring how the effects of deforestation and poaching have critically endangered wildlife. I have used a burning technique on the paper (literally burnt the paper then etched out the portrait, there are no digital enhancements), which serves as a reflection of man-made fire and machines destroying the forest, and it’s inhabitants. Their burnt portrait on a by-product of their homes will soon be all that is left of them, as we observe the ghost that is left behind in memory.
Sumatran Tiger
These Tigers are the smallest surviving tiger subspecies and are distinguished by heavy black stripes on the orange coats. The last of Indonesia’s tigers - now fewer than 400 - are holding on for survival. Faced with major deforestation threats and rampant poaching the Sumatran tiger could end up like it’s extinct Javan and Balinese Relatives. The island of Sumatra is the only place where tigers, rhinos, orangutans and elephants live together and they all face a similar fate.
These Tigers are the smallest surviving tiger subspecies and are distinguished by heavy black stripes on the orange coats. The last of Indonesia’s tigers - now fewer than 400 - are holding on for survival. Faced with major deforestation threats and rampant poaching the Sumatran tiger could end up like it’s extinct Javan and Balinese Relatives. The island of Sumatra is the only place where tigers, rhinos, orangutans and elephants live together and they all face a similar fate.
Black Rhino
The Rhino has been at the heart of WWF since 1961 in their efforts to conserve and protect wildlife across the globe. Even considered to be ‘one of the oldest groups of mammals, virtually living fossils ’ and yet Black Rhinos are critically endangered due to habitat loss and major illegal poaching fuelled by a high demand for Rhino horn.
The Rhino has been at the heart of WWF since 1961 in their efforts to conserve and protect wildlife across the globe. Even considered to be ‘one of the oldest groups of mammals, virtually living fossils ’ and yet Black Rhinos are critically endangered due to habitat loss and major illegal poaching fuelled by a high demand for Rhino horn.
Sumatran Orangutan
Orangutans are one of our closest living relatives and the mothers have kids every 8-9 years so their population is extremely vulnerable and fragile. Hunting and habitat loss are still major threats ‘despite legal protection in Indonesia since 1931, Orangutans are still captured from the wild and kept in households as status symbols’. Due to major fires converting forests into palm oil plantations and agricultural development, Orangutans are losing their homes fast and since they are arboreal creatures living among the trees peacefully, they cannot escape the fires and burn to death with their young. These critically endangered animals are some of the many that are being affected.
Orangutans are one of our closest living relatives and the mothers have kids every 8-9 years so their population is extremely vulnerable and fragile. Hunting and habitat loss are still major threats ‘despite legal protection in Indonesia since 1931, Orangutans are still captured from the wild and kept in households as status symbols’. Due to major fires converting forests into palm oil plantations and agricultural development, Orangutans are losing their homes fast and since they are arboreal creatures living among the trees peacefully, they cannot escape the fires and burn to death with their young. These critically endangered animals are some of the many that are being affected.
Sumatran Elephant
‘In 2012, the Sumatran elephant was changed from “endangered” to “Critically Endangered” because half of its population has been lost in one generation – a decline that is largely due to habitat loss and as a result human-elephant conflict. Sumatra has experienced one of the highest rates of deforestation within the Asian elephants range, which has resulted in local extinctions of elephants in many areas. Over two-thirds of it’s natural lowland forest has been razed in the past 25 years and nearly 70 percent of the Sumatran elephant’s habitat has been destroyed in one generation.’ These elephants generally have smaller tusks but enough to tempt poachers to kill for, only male’s have tusks so illegal poaching further skews the sex ratio and constrains breeding for the species.
‘In 2012, the Sumatran elephant was changed from “endangered” to “Critically Endangered” because half of its population has been lost in one generation – a decline that is largely due to habitat loss and as a result human-elephant conflict. Sumatra has experienced one of the highest rates of deforestation within the Asian elephants range, which has resulted in local extinctions of elephants in many areas. Over two-thirds of it’s natural lowland forest has been razed in the past 25 years and nearly 70 percent of the Sumatran elephant’s habitat has been destroyed in one generation.’ These elephants generally have smaller tusks but enough to tempt poachers to kill for, only male’s have tusks so illegal poaching further skews the sex ratio and constrains breeding for the species.
