Embrace

While staying at Booburrgan Ngmmunge (Bunya Mountains) I discovered these ancient forests are in peril due to an insidious disease caused by Phytophthoras. Human interference and polluted water from industry carry these pathogens threatening this ancient forest. This realisation lead to a new series of artworks that explore these invisible pathogens.

My drawing highlights that since the decline of the Aboriginal gatherings in the Bunya Mountains in the 1870’s, the absence of intensive and strategic fire management has led to a decline in the extent and health of the forests.

In Barrungam language, the Bunya Mountains are known as Booburrgan Ngmmunge, meaning mother’s milk, which refers to the nourishment Bunya country provides to its people. My drawing depicts this milk as being corrupted by Phytophthoras. It is my hope that the important work of the Bunya Peoples Aboriginal Corporation will bring about healing to this threaten forest leading the way forward in repairing country.

Follow

Dennis McCart is an Australian artist working in the discipline of painting and digital media.
Dennis has had his work represented at a number of regional galleries in Australia such as Redlands Regional Art Gallery, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, Moreton Bay Regional Art Gallery. He has been shortlisted in the Tattersalls art prize, Brisbane city council galleries, Kennedy art Prize, Redlands Art Prize, Moreton Regional Council Art Prize, Clayton Utz Art Award, Lethbridge 10000 art award, Milburn Art prize and the Rotary Spectacular art prize.

Dennis studied fine art painting at Queensland College of Art During the 90’s his practice shifted to include other media, such as new media, visual theatre and performance, while completing a Bachelor of Arts in Drama at Queensland University of Technology. This led to a deeper exploration into computer based multi-media works supported by a Graduate Certificate of Digital New Media at Griffith University in 2000. Seeking to explore painting academically and enhance his studio practice Dennis undertook and completed a Master of Arts in Visual Art (MAVA) at Griffith University in 2011 receiving the University Academic Media. Dennis continued his research studio practice with a MAVA First class Honours in Painting in 2012 exploring the research topic of edgelands.

Beginning 2019, I began to incorporate into my practice Machine Learning algorithms to act as a muse, collaborator and tool in my art practice. uses a generative machine network to challenge and evolve my art practice from one of pre-conceived bias to the opening up of chance and surprise