Portrait of Reptile Park co-director unveiled

Archibald Prize entry.


Article heading image for Portrait of Reptile Park co-director unveiled

Above: Kelly-Anne, Tim and the piece "Putting up De-Fences"

Today at the Australian Reptile Park central coast artist Kelly-Anne Love revealed a beautiful portrait of the 2015 Australian conservationist of the year, Tim Faulkner. The work will be submitted to the Art Gallery of NSW’s 2017 Archibald Prize. The work highlights the conservation and science Tim has been doing to help prevent the extinction of Australia’s native animals and stop the spread of feral animals in the Australian bush. The ongoing work Tim does for conservation of Australian fauna is his greatest passion.  As the President of Devil Ark, a not-for-profit organization set up to save Australia’s iconic Tasmanian Devil population, Tim has worked tirelessly to build numbers of Devil’s, along with numerous other endangered marsupials in Australia and highlight the threat these species is under.

 

Tim regards a major problem being that, “Australia has the worst mammal extinction rate on earth, almost as many as the rest of the world put together. We also have 1700 species threatened with extinction right now!” Faulkner goes on to say, “our wildlife is suffering and worse disappearing. The threat of the feral fox and cat, even in the remotest areas are too strong. It’s time for drastic measures and solution rather than more problems. One such solutions feral proof fences, perhaps they’re the future and at very least a critical component and conservation tool. The battle of the natives rages on in Australia and at this point it needs a fence between them to prevent further extinctions. We have been building fences of this nature at Devil Ark since 2010”

 

The artwork depicts Tim along with endangered native wildlife on one side of a fence with feral pests on the other. The work is a visual example of the struggle to keep Australia’s iconic fauna safe from extinction. “I want bring love and inspiration through my art to people, the positive side of conservation is what is important to me,” said Kelly-Anne. “Tim’s work in conservation represents the art I want create, so I feel this piece tells both his story and my own.”

 

The Archibald prize is Australia’s premier portrait prize, started in 1916 it is awarded to the best portrait of some man or woman distinguished in art, letters, science or politics, painted by any artist resident in Australasia. Kelly-Anne feels the work Tim Faulkner has done in conservation and science, protecting endangered animals and highlighting the need for action to the broader public makes him a perfect candidate for the portrait prize.

 

Kelly-Anne Love is known for her Vintage "Tattooing out" of animals or people inspired by her Grandfather served in the Navy which lead her to having her first solo "Australiana Tattoo Series" with Anala Art Advisory. Her love of animals and her desire to do something about Australia’s endangered fauna has been influencing her work. Submissions for the 2017 Archibald prize close on July 7th and the exhibition of those selected runs from 29 July to 22 October at the Art Gallery of NSW.

 

Devil Ark is a not-for-profit charity and replies on public donation to survive. Please visit www.devilark.org.au for more information.

23 June 2017




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