Celebrating our Common Ground

BACKSPACE Gallery’s new month-long exhibition, Common Ground is a celebration of Australia’s natural environment and an exploration of its relationship with people.

It features the work of nine local artists, Katherine Barrand, Areka Brown, Jack Duff, Georgina Gould-Hardwick, Angus Gregurke, Patrick Gregurke, Ariana Llewellyn, Anne Schulz and Karl Woodward.

The artists, part of a multidisciplinary group from a range of backgrounds including conservation, architectural design and education, have projected their personal experiences and knowledge about Australia, and the region’s natural heritage and ecosystems into their work.

Media utilised include oil and acrylic paint, coloured pencil, recycled materials, ink, woodcut, digital image manipulation, photography and mixed media.

Patrick Gregurke hopes the exhibition encourages people to get out an enjoy the natural environment.

“Really appreciate it, step back and have a look, take it in,” he said. “The exhibition is a great excuse for us to make some artwork, say something about the environment, showcase it and explore our relationship with it.

“Our environment is continuously transforming over time due to natural forces and human intervention. We are also interested in ecological and natural resource issues surrounding the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity, as well as the functioning of ecosystems.”

Anne Shulz simply wants to remind people how beautiful our country is.

“Everyone’s stuck inside and in cities all the time. It’s good to show Australian nature because it’s amazing,” she said. “It’s got the best beauty in the world, in my opinion. The natural Australian light is really different to overseas.”

Georgina Gould-Hardwick’s works are all pencil on paper. One features an endemic species of plant from Mount Cole.

“What I’m trying to draw with that, is that there are threatened species that only exist in this really small area, and we need to protect those things,” she said.

“Backspace have done a fabulous job with the curation. It’s good to have a bit of experience without all of the pressure of organising a show by yourself.”