tapestry weaving - paper
artist statement Handspun newspaper is used to create a woven tapestry, a centuries old textile technique, to record a symbolic image of Australia's iconic marsupial. Referencing colours from the Pop Art movement, this work draws attention to the plight of the koala. |
give me a home among the gumtrees...
framed: 64cm (h) x 54cm (w) newspaper, dye, cotton yarn dyed newsprint, handspun, woven tapestry 2023 'connections' exhibition, macarthur textile network as part of 'macarthur and beyond' exhibitions, campbelltown arts centre, campbelltown, NSW tapestry weaving - detail
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I like an ironic title. Campbelltown is known as Koalatown, home of the only known chlamydia-free koala population in NSW. In order for Lend Lease and other land development corporations to build homes in NSW, they will be clearing trees and the natural habitat at Appin NSW. They know that 30% of the current population will perish from this decision, the introduction of roads and infrastructure to support these new suburbs and the people and family dogs that will live in these areas. And yet they approve the development and land clearing anyway. Planting new replacement trees 'to offset' this action will not benefit the current dwindling population. Originally 1700 new homes were proposed and approved by the previous government in 2021 as part of the Figtree Hill development. In June 2023, the current NSW government are now considering an estimated 3000 new homes proposed by the land development company. With current housing shortages, people need homes, but at what cost?
In 2022, the koala was listed as "Endangered" under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, across much of Eastern Australia. In May, the NSW government acknowledged without intervention, the risk of extinction is both immediate and significant. Around 4000 koalas are killed each year from cars and dogs alone, which is attributed to the increasing urbanisation of bushland and encroachment on native bushland. Australia has one of the highest land clearing rates in the world. Without intervention. koalas could be extinct in NSW by 2050.
NB. Information stated is taken from official, government and development corporation publicly published reports.
I like an ironic title. Campbelltown is known as Koalatown, home of the only known chlamydia-free koala population in NSW. In order for Lend Lease and other land development corporations to build homes in NSW, they will be clearing trees and the natural habitat at Appin NSW. They know that 30% of the current population will perish from this decision, the introduction of roads and infrastructure to support these new suburbs and the people and family dogs that will live in these areas. And yet they approve the development and land clearing anyway. Planting new replacement trees 'to offset' this action will not benefit the current dwindling population. Originally 1700 new homes were proposed and approved by the previous government in 2021 as part of the Figtree Hill development. In June 2023, the current NSW government are now considering an estimated 3000 new homes proposed by the land development company. With current housing shortages, people need homes, but at what cost?
In 2022, the koala was listed as "Endangered" under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, across much of Eastern Australia. In May, the NSW government acknowledged without intervention, the risk of extinction is both immediate and significant. Around 4000 koalas are killed each year from cars and dogs alone, which is attributed to the increasing urbanisation of bushland and encroachment on native bushland. Australia has one of the highest land clearing rates in the world. Without intervention. koalas could be extinct in NSW by 2050.
NB. Information stated is taken from official, government and development corporation publicly published reports.