Tracing the Roads North

In June, I was artist in residence at Cairns’ Tanks Art Centre, where I created a scroll drawing in the Botanical Gardens using charcoal, ink, and earth pigments. The residency allowed me to explore northern tropical ecosystems daily. Starting with gestural charcoal marks depicting earth layers, I focused on the forest understory and gradually moved to a bird’s eye view, incorporating thick lines inspired by the Barron River system. Mangrove forests in this region protect against erosion, support wildlife nurseries, and store carbon. I folded the artwork in a concertina format to serve as an archive of time and place, highlighting the need to value and protect these natural environments for future generations.