Unsuitable replacement

Marni Stuart

This research seeks to answer the question: how can nature-culture be used as act of ecological activism? The research takes place within the Sunshine Coast Biosphere, near construction that replaced sand dunes with a surf club. The artwork Unsuitable Replacement, depicts a plastic bag dancing in the wind on the sand dune recorded a photograph and video. It is patterned with plants endemic to these sand dunes; spinifex, pigweed, and snake vine. The plastic bag takes space where once wildflowers flourished. Its form imitates what once was, but it’s not the same. It’s distracting us from our reckless destruction in the name of progress. We once fought to protect these sand dunes. We now fight to protect our convenience. The depiction of plants reflects the element of nature, their application on the bag in a commercial style, flattens nature and culture. The visual dichotomy of the image, warns the viewer of the replacement of nature with culture, should destruction and construction continue unchecked. The work forces nature-culture to spark visual contrast and ignite ecological activism. This outcome reflects the aim of this research; to harnesses to power held within my practice, and that of my peers, to act as a means of ecological activism. This work creates the potential to evolve my practice into conservation through a nature-culture framework. Research Background Unsuitable Replacement answers the question: How can nature-culture be used as act of ecological activism, which runs adjacent to Stuart’s PhD research on making in response to place. The research takes place within the Sunshine Coast Biosphere, near construction that replaced sand dunes with a surf club. The work looks to the concept of nature-culturea compression of the duality of nature and culturethat activates environmental discussion outside the bounds of formal learning. Davis (2020) presents nature-culturetitled botanical cultureas a method for building a “popular wildflower consciousness” (p.73) through the practice of Kathleen McArthur. Stuart & Davis (2023) apply this tool to Stuart’s arts-practice as a method for learning place. This works extends this discussion into ecological activism. Research Contribution The work films a plastic bag in swaying in sand dunes. The bag is decorated with a pattern of endemic plantsa response to place. The bag serves an unsuitable replacement of what once was, echoing the construction nearby. The depiction of plants reflects the element of nature, their application on the bag in a commercial style, flattens nature and culture. The visual dichotomy of the image, warns the viewer of the replacement of nature with culture, should destruction and construction continue unchecked. The work forces nature-culture to spark visual contrast and ignite environmental activism. Research Significance The work was developed in response to an invitation to exhibit in See and Seaing based on the quality of the artist’s practice. The was artwork was reviewed and accepted for exhibition by the curators, RMIT lecturers; Dr Denise Sprynskyj and Dr Peter Boyd. The online exhibition was hosted by Melbourne Design Week, as a Creative Victoria initiative delivered by the National Gallery of Victoria. The exhibition was viewable for five days receiving 600 visits from Australia, Brazil, USA, UK & China.

Unsuitable replacement

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