Cemetery of Trees

The inaugral exhibtion of ‘Cemetery of Trees’ was a winning submission for the Hornshy Shire Council’s 2019 Head On Festival colaboration. The following notes are taken form the exhibtion catalogue - authored by the hosts at The Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre.

‘The Kosciusko National Park’s bushfires of 2003 ravaged the NSW (Australian) Snowy Mountain region leaving a hauntingly beautiful landscape. White trunked trees left abandoned, stripped by the wind, bleached by the sun, stranded in silence. The stark landscape, swept by spirits, is a reminder of resilience and impermanence in both the human condition and natural environment. 

The initial bushfire wrought terror and havoc. A shock to all lifeforms. However, the Australian landscape’s ability to recover from the devastation of bushfire is legendary. Recovery takes time, but not all survive. Sydney photographer, David Starr, documented the Guthega region a decade later over a period of three years. The exhibition depicts the impact of decimation on a landscape over time and the suspended, silence space - between life and death.

Cemetery of Trees challenges contemporary culture’s unease with conversation around death. This exhibition elevates the two great certainties of existence - death and life - and the beauty that lies within it.’

The exhibtion had a successful second showing at THE SHAC gallery , in the NSW southern Highlands, in April 2021.