“Genesis”: A photographic Exploration of Becoming
noun: genesis 1. the origin or mode of formation of something.
Set in critically endangered remnants of the ancient “Big Scrub”, (its lineage dated back 180 million years) on Bundjalung nation, Australia, “Genesis” is a collaborative visual exploration with a young woman in transition and the profound connection between her evolving sense of self, the landscape and organic elements that surround her.
It is underpinned by the age of the Anthropocene narrative, and the ecological death and destruction of the remaining Big Scrub, some of the oldest surviving rainforest in Australia, located within Wilsons Creek and the surrounds, where I live. Big Scrub is descended from the ancient Gondwana rainforests and species that trace their lineages back 180 million years, as well as species that migrated from Asia millennia ago. It is home to the richest terrestrial biodiversity in NSW and an ancient, complex ecosystem of immense ecological and cultural value, that sadly 99% was overgrazed and almost entirely destroyed by colonial settlement.
This ongoing work simultaneously explores the erosion of the Big Scrub, highlighting visually the impacts of the Anthropocene on this ancient ecosystem such as colonisation, agriculture, deforestation, & introduced species, alongside the worsening impacts of climate change including the recent catastrophic Northern Rivers floods in 2022.
The central figure is both subject and muse, her human form intertwining with the natural world, navigating identity, body image, sexuality and spirituality, and the delicate balance between vulnerability and empowerment. Her physical expression with and in nature forge connections with the elements that mirror her own internal evolution and serves as a metaphor for the symbiotic relationship between her own evolutionary growth and the ever-changing seasons of life.
Layered with symbology and metaphor, such as the interplay of light and shadow, human structures and artificial artefacts and organic elements, such as bones, serve as metaphors for the hidden structures within us – both physical and psychological – that shape our identities and influence our understanding of self.
This intimate juxtaposition of the organic and the corporeal highlights the interconnectedness between the physical self and the natural world, emphasizing a harmonious relationship between the two and urging us to acknowledge and celebrate the beauty of our own evolution.
