RISE: Artists use charcoal from bushfires in new exhibition

The charcoal from Australia’s bushfire crisis has been gathered and transformed into art in a new exhibition.

The charcoal from burnt branches on the east coast of Australia has been gathered and transformed into art to support the effort to rebuild the communities ravaged by bushfires.

The RISE exhibition will feature the work of over 100 globally recognised artists, including Reg Mombassa and American street artist Shepard Fairey.

Sydney-based artist Emma O’Brien, who was asked to participate at the height of the bushfire crisis in early January, began working on her piece, titled Come Hell or High Water when Sydney was smashed with rain and flash flooding.

“The phrase ‘Come Hell or High Water’, to me, represented these two extremities of the climate crisis and what is to come,” she said.

“At the same time, the phrase also referred to the resolve and determination displayed by the efforts of volunteers, firefighters and emergency services to do everything in their power to support those in need.”

The 32-year-old expressive calligrapher, who used charcoal collected from the Southern Highlands, used wet and dry forms of the matter to create a paint for her design.

On participating in the exhibition, Ms O’Brien said: “It’s a great way to show a united front of support and solidarity for those affected by the bushfires.”

Hosted by Carriageworks in Sydney, the exhibition, which opens to the public on March 12, will feature international names alongside emerging designers and artists.

The proceeds of a silent online auction of the artworks will be donated to local bushfire relief charities, including the Rural Fire Service, WIRES and Kangaroo Island Wildlife Fund.
Co-founders, Matty Burton, the creative chief of Google Partner Innovation in the company’s Asia Pacific division, and Luca Ionescu, director of Like Minded Studio, are fused together by the belief that creativity can be the answer in times of hardship.

“All we did was create the platform, but it’s amazing when you see what the artists can do with it. Every time I open a piece when it arrives, I’m blown away by the talent and inspiration,” Mr Burton said.

Mr Ionescu said he had been amazed by the diversity of the pieces, from Japanese kimonos to charcoal sculptures.

“All of this destruction has been channelled into something inspiring and beautiful. That’s the power of art. It brings this healing power,” said Mr Ionescu.

“We’ve tried to just open the gates to people who we think are affecting culture now who we think will become big later. So it’s democratic like that,” said Mr Burton.

The recent bushfires garnered worldwide attention and Mr Burton sees the exhibition as a way to change the direction of the narrative.

“If we can start to come out of this looking like we’re more innovative, creative and we’ve got the backing of these people worldwide, I just feel like it’s a much better story to tell,” he said.

“We’ve been affected by this in a global sense. With all the artists reaching out, it shows we will not be defeated by this destruction. We will re-emerge.”