That animal came out of nowhere!
It’s not an uncommon phrase on Tasmania’s roads, especially close to dusk and dawn.
Artists Amanda Kay, Jerome Dobinson and Natasa Milenovic have created an spatial experience, spanning three galleries to consider the issue of roadkill.
Each of the rooms is dedicated to a different theme – Impact, Transformation and Resolution.
More than 200 roadkill deaths have been plotted between Southern Tasmania and Cradle Mountain with a GPS location as a part of the Out of Nowhere exhibition.
The vinyl floor graphic stretched across the rooms, connecting them together.
The multi-faceted exhibition involves visual art, audio installations, sculptures, taxidermy and paintings to leave visitors more informed and mindful when they’re driving.
Kay and Dobinson are both directors at T3D Studio.
Kay examined the cycle of life to death to life and invited the audience to consider resolutions to the issue of roadkill.
In researching the topic, Kay said she discovered that approximately half a million animals die on Tasmania’s roads each year.
Every three kilometres, there was an animal fatality on the state’s roads, she said.
Grasping the magnitude of the issue took time as the figures sounded so large, Kay said.
She discovered while researching for her artworks that animals used pathways to get on and off the roads.
If an animal missed a pathway it would keep going along the road until it found the next path, which explained why kangaroos could be found hopping along the road, instead of darting into the bush, Kay said.
A massive grazing corridor also operates from north to south.
“As animals are grazing, they’re forced to cross roads,” she said.
By examining patterns of behaviour, she hoped to create more awareness of the issues in her artwork and develop resolutions.
The exhibition showcased the impact of humanity on native wildlife, Kay said.
“It’s an issue that is harming biodiversity.”
Dobinson used paint to mirror the experience of driving on Tasmanian roads.
He used research to help create his space, and discovered that driving 10 kilometres slower could make a difference to animals crossing the roads, he said.
"Slow down and stay aware at night.”
Milenovic’s work explored ways to “honour the roadkill” by using animal bones, skulls, hides and feathers to create artworks, he said.
- Out of Nowhere will be held until February 5 at the Cradle Mountain Wilderness Gallery. The gallery, which is located at 3718 Cradle Mountain Road, is open seven days, between 9am and 5pm.
Tess Brunton
I recently returned from across the ditch where I worked at New Zealand Fairfax paper The Timaru Herald and developed a love of mountains. Originally I'm a mainlander from an area known for cheese, the Bega Valley, who also dabbled in radio at ABC RCAFF before finding a place in newspapers. I can often be found hiking, caving or climbing when I'm not cursing at my work computer or technology in general.
I recently returned from across the ditch where I worked at New Zealand Fairfax paper The Timaru Herald and developed a love of mountains. Originally I'm a mainlander from an area known for cheese, the Bega Valley, who also dabbled in radio at ABC RCAFF before finding a place in newspapers. I can often be found hiking, caving or climbing when I'm not cursing at my work computer or technology in general.
