Anzac Pde’s felled Moreton Bay figs live on in art

Gabbi Lancaster spent hours sketching the Moreton Bay figs lining Anzac Pde, many which were ultimately felled to make way for the light rail. See them live on at her latest exhibition.

Artist Gabbi Lancaster spend hours sketching the Moreton Bay figs on Anzac Pde before they were cut down. Picture: Craig Wilson

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BEFORE a procession of Moreton Bay figs were felled along Anzac Pde, one artist was busy trying to immortalise them.

Maroubra painter Gabbi Lancaster spent hours under the canopies of trees later removed by the State Government to make way for Sydney’s light rail.

She is now preparing to unveil a solo exhibition to mark the loss of Anzac’s figs.

“I witnessed the midnight chainsaw massacres ... my art ... was transformed into an expression of peaceful activism.”

She said painting the beauty and vulnerability of trees and landscapes “helped me make sense of the destruction.”

Australian flora and fauna make up the subjects of the exhibition.

“I remember coming back from Jervis Bay and seeing Alison Rd devastated,” she said. About 40 century-old trees were given the chop.

As a result she spent “quite a few days” with Randwick’s famous ‘Tree of Knowledge’ before it too was given an unceremonious hack.

“Drawing and observing, it’s like a meditative state. Even though I had sorrow because I knew what was going to happen to that tree.” She hopes the exhibition will intensify local residents’ passion to save the remaining trees.

“Previously, there wasn’t enough people of us who cased for there to be a critical mass to stop it happening.”

Gabbi Lancaster’s exhibition Jade opens on Thursday November 3 at 6pm at M2 Gallery in Surry Hills.

The exhibition continues until November 15 and on Sunday November 6 the gallery will hold a tea and talk with the artist, starting at 2pm.

The artwork is available for sale, from $500.