Threads of Survival: Numbat Artwork

Since the 2020 bushfires, I have stared to make mixed media artworks to show in galleries that grapples with our changing world and gives space to the widespread loss of plants and animals caused by climate change and loss of habitat. My extensive experience as a sculptor can be observed in the new collection of highly contemporary mixed media wall pieces. The viewer is alerted to the vulnerable species subject matter through a bold and bright laser cut metal composition, professionally painted with high grade automotive enamel in a contrasting saturated monochromatic colour scheme that is intoxicatingly smooth and overlaid with a transparent luminous acrylic perspex that creates an animal shadow. The Numbat is small to medium sized marsupial that’s the faunal emblem of Western Australia. They survive in two naturally occurring populations in the south-west of Western Australia. Other reintroduced populations exist in protected reserves in New South Wales and South Australia.Their termite-only diet means they need to be active during the day to find food.Due to their size, Numbats are hunted by many animals like feral cats, feral foxes, dingoes and birds of prey. They spend nights hiding in hollow logs or burrows that are too narrow for predators to enter. To further protect themselves from predators at night, Numbats use their very thick-skinned rump to block the entrance.