McMillan MP Russell Broadbent welcomed guests at the opening of an exhibition of bushfire inspired artwork.By Melissa Meehan
BLACKENED trees, fierce flames and other artworks linked to the Black Saturday bushfires were launched at Parliament House last week.
Gembrook artist, Peter Biram said while he was not personally adversely affected by the fires, each artist included in the exhibition had some form of attachment to Black Saturday.
The exhibition “Fields of View” will tour regional and metropolitan Victoria until the end of August.
“Two of our artists were directly affected by the fires in Callignee,” Mr Biram said.
“They fought and fought for their house and their lives on Black Saturday, and by some miracle were able to save their home and their own lives.”
Living in Gembrook, Mr Biram said he was not directly affected by the fires, but was evacuated a number of times in the weeks following.
“Everyone was affected in their own way,” he said.
“I don’t want to say that I was affected when so many people lost friends and family and their homes.”
Mr Biram said the exhibition launch was just one of two events to celebrate on the night.
“It was also the launch of a new art movement – Environmental Expressionism,” Mr Biram said.
“I thought about it in 2005 and things just grew.”
Environmental Expressionism combines environmental issues such as logging and climate change with the artist’s own personality.
“Artists should mark their work with their own expression,” he said.
For more information see www.fieldsofview.leonieryan.com.au.
