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Given it has been proven that humans don’t change their attitude and behaviour towards the environment based on facts. What role does art have to emotionally engage with people and impact on their behaviour and attitudes? Forest Keegel consults with scientists and environmentalists to research threatened species and simple things people can do to improve their chance of survival. This research forms the basis of art projects often participatory in nature that occur in public spaces like the Lorne Sculpture Biennale. So people can connect with the species and learn about their habitat needs and unique attributes. For example a residency in Rainbow engaging the community to make a Malleefowl Mound and monitoring its temperature, as a way to learn about their fascinating behaviour and how much leaf litter they require during their breeding cycle.
Orchestra of Extinction is a long term project in which Keegel and her collaborator sound artist Amanda King explore the habitat of threatened species and record sound and video footage to be housed in an old radiogram cabinets that are encrusted with residues of the species habitat such as varnish made from plant saps and resins. Each of these cabinets become an archive for a particular species forming a record of what King and Keegel have learnt about them through research, time walking and recording in their habitat and speaking with scientists and local experts.
A contemporary interpretation of a Cabinet of Curiosities or Wunderkammer that highlights extinction and vulnerability of threatened species and brings their recorded habitats in to a historic house Colonial setting in future.
Vulnerable and Threatened Species recorded
Malleefowl, Leipoa ocellata -Wotjobaluk Country-(Little Desert and Wimerra/Mallee)-2017
Bush Stone-curlew Burhinus grallarius -Dja Dja Wurrung Country (Central Victoria) 2017
Powerful Owl Ninnox stupenda - Dja Dja Wurrung Country (Central Victoria) 2018
Duan, Brush Tailed Phascogale, Phascogale tapoatafa tapoatafa - Dja Dja Wurrung Country (Central Victoria) 2018
Kaparunina, Thylacine/Tiger, Thylacinus cynocephalus and Purinina Tasmanian Devil, Sarcophilus harrisii- Lutruwita takanya (Tasmania) 2019
Alberts Lyrebird Menura alberti- Widjabul Wia-bal Country, Bundjalung Nation, (Terania Basin Night Cap Ranges Northern NSW) 2019