Carmel Wallace, Bare Bones of Toolangi Forest 2016, whittled and painted branches of significant trees in the Toolangi State Forest

This work began as an investigation into the inner life of a variety of significant trees in the forest. I cut back the bark of selected fallen branches to reveal the ‘bones’ beneath. Painted, these branches form a skeletal forest, a ‘momento mori’. Hanging, they hold the promise of spiritual rebirth and hope that the forest in all its rich diversity will be valued and saved.