26. Louise Flaherty

26. Louise Flaherty

Title: Plant Carers of Park 17 – Tuthangga
Category: General
Dimensions (cm): 160h x 120w x 5d
Medium: Ink On Paper

Statement:

“Plant Carers is inspired by the work of the volunteers that care for native plants in the Adelaide Park Lands’ Park 17 – Tuthangga. The site is part of Trees For Life’s Bush for Life program, which aims to help people take practical steps to conserve bushland. I am inspired and motivated by the site’s group of volunteers, of which I am one, that work on-site each Monday. This group of passionate volunteers work painstakingly to weed out invasive species to allow native grasses to grow and thrive.For this work, I focus on the relationship between plant conservationists and the threatened plants they care for. This work continues my long-term research into native flora across South Australia. I am specifically interested in presenting the form of human hands as nurturing and preserving agents in plant conservation. This series of ink drawings depict a selection of hands of some of the volunteers that work this site. I hope to highlight and honour the important work that they are doing in caring for our precious flora and inspire others to also do the same.

Situated in the current Anthropocene and climate emergency, my work aims to highlight the small and practical steps that ordinary, everyday people are taking to reduce the impact that humans have on our natural environment. I hope to encourage the audience to reflect on their relationship with the natural world and gain an appreciation for plant conservation and the care of our environment.”