Wetland Stories
Since humans started trading tales around campfires, storytelling has created a deep and enduring connection to the land and community. Stories connect us to nature and others. They inspire us, grow and preserve our knowledge, and tell us who we are, creating identity and culture.
The Wetland Stories exhibition, showcased the work of three Mandurah-based artists passionate about wetland conservation. The exhibition premiered 13 October 2023 at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre. The theme centred on the intricate relationship between wetlands and human communities, emphasizing the ecological significance of the RAMSAR listed Peel-Yalgorup Wetlands and their impact on human health and well-being.
Following its success, the exhibition was invited to the 20th Annual WA Wetlands Conference at the Wetlands Centre in Feburary 2024. This conference is a significant event in wetland conservation, bringing together experts and enthusiasts to discuss and promote the importance of wetlands.
The exhibition featured works from multiple mediums, including textile & fibre art, printmaking, fine art photography, videography, ceramics and scupture. Many of the works below by Marie were exhibited at both venues.
View Wetland Stories Project and Exhibition Galleries
Click on individual images to view details.
Series:
Hope, Respect and Tribute
This series showcases the birds I observed on my walks along the estuary after I moved to the Peel Region. I chose this format because postage stamps are more than transporting letters from A to B. They are markers of value, history, and culture. They capture the events and identity of the country that produces them. By featuring local wildlife on stamps, I wanted to emphasise their significance and their fragility in the face of climate change and human development. I researched the birds’ diet and habits, and how they depend on the delicate balance of the estuarine ecosystem. As I worked on the first three stamps, I reflected on the deeper history of this land. The flora, fauna and the traditional custodians who have been here for thousands of years, long before colonisation and its impact. I wanted to honour that history and respect the knowledge by adding Noongar bird names to the stamps, along with the common and scientific names. I believe this is a step towards healing and reconciliation between our cultures. I was fortunate to receive permission to use the Noongar bird names by local Elder George Walley. These are the first six in an ongoing series of works acknowledging the wildlife and indigenous knowledge of this region.
Series: Foreshore Encounters
Foreshore Encounters was created from a collection of personal photographs taken on the Falcon, Dawesville, and Bouvard Foreshores. Like pearls of nature, the photos captured fleeting moments of beauty and wonder. They remind me of the preciousness of life amid the daily rush and noise.
The collage resulting from digital manipulation and layering added depth and an ethereal nature to the images. This limited variable edition set of transfer prints further demonstrates the of fragility of our local wetlands.
