Two Artworks Shortlisted for Goulburn Regional Art Prize
“On a Journey” Graphite on Fabriano paper 76cm x 57cm
“Seeking Refuge” Graphite on Paper A3
Overview
Environmental Activism Artworks Shortlisted for Goulburn Regional Art Prize
Exhibition: Goulburn Regional Art Prize, Goulburn Regional Gallery NSW
Location: Goulburn, Southern Tablelands NSW
Years: 2020, 2021
Artists Statement(s)
“On a Journey” (2021)
We are living through a pivotal moment in Australia’s history, a journey of change. In my experience, change is rarely comfortable. Discomfort is the signal that something is shifting. It asks us to sit in the unknown, to navigate new emotional landscapes, and to balance fear with courage.
This drawing challenges archaic cultural constructs of masculinity by presenting a new image of the Australian male: one who is emotionally present, open, and in relationship with the natural world. Here, the vulnerable stands beside the vulnerable; the (hu)man guided by a native quoll, led not by dominance but by reciprocity. It is a portrait of working with nature, not on it, depicted in the shadow of the devastating Black Summer bushfires.
This artwork explores the existential human longing for belonging, reimagined through kinship with the more-than-human world. The detailed textures invite close attention, each line a thread in the fragile fabric of our current climate. In this, I hope to offer a symbolic blanket: one stitched with humility, integrity, and the quiet courage to keep walking forward.
Work in progress
Practice sketch for the Eastern Quoll
“Seeking Refuge” Graphite on paper A3 by Bohie Blackwood 2019
Artist Statement
”Seeking Refuge” 2020
A pygmy possum rows through a surreal landscape in a leaf, heading toward a discarded VB can resting among reeds. The can is a symbol of Australian blokedom. It’s tough, masculine, and built to sell. It reflects a cultural image that continues to shape decisions about land, climate, and who gets to belong. Australia’s leadership still leans into that image. While fragile ecosystems face collapse, the response from those in power remains marked by blokey indifference.
Perched on the can is a large native moth, based on a species the artist photographed while walking. It acts as a gatekeeper, watching over the only available shelter in the scene. The pygmy possum cannot enter. It is small, vulnerable, and seeking safety, but finds the path blocked by something larger and more dominant.
This drawing reflects on how power, culture, and waste intersect. It asks what happens when the only remaining spaces for refuge are shaped by the same forces that created the damage. The work draws attention to fragile species trying to survive in a system that is still not built with them in mind.
