Treescape - October 2018

I recorded the aftermath of this fire and the slow ‘build up’ to what transpired to be a dismal wet season. The convenient myth is that 'this country needs fire'. Indeed, it is remarkably adapted to cope with it and recover. However, my observation was that this fire damaged and killed many trees and we lost some small plant species. Afterwards there was a dearth of birds, animals and insects. The bush did not just 'come back'. It responded to this anthropogenic catastrophe with a remarkable increase in combustible grasses, both native and introduced, thriving on the ashy nutrients and the extra light from the lost tree canopy. There will be more fuel to burn next time
"October" depicts one of the mature Eucalyptus alba trees which caught fire.
Charcoal & pastel on 4 sheets of coloured paper
75 x 220cm