Artwork Description
Jana Ireijo – Vanishing Koala
Dimensions: 18 x 24″
Year: 2020
Media: mural: found charcoal from Australian bushfires, concrete
Jana Ireijo was inspired to make this study of Vanishing Koala for a large scale mural after investigating the Australian bushfires. Australia is known for its widespread bushfires, sometimes caused by natural causes like lightning and sometimes manmade. The worst bushfire in Australian history occurred between September 2019 and March 2020, in part due to electric power lines and dry lightning. This crisis caused an astounding death of over 800 million animals in Australia, and koalas were the most vulnerable to the fires due to their slow nature. Ireijo intends to execute this mural with charred wood from the bushfires, anticipating that it will fade—like the presence of animals fades—over time as a result of the destruction wrought by the fires. Vanishing Koala explores the impact that humans have on the natural landscape and the horrors that come with the uncontrollable devastation of fires in Australia. This piece is part of a show at Turner Carroll Gallery co-curated by Judy Chicago.