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.