Connecting to Nature thru Art & Design

biophilia: bʌɪə(ʊ)ˈfɪlɪə noun: a genetically determined affinity of human beings with the natural world. Popularized by he late Harvard biologist and theorist Edward O.Wilson, the principles of 'biophilia' permeate contemporary architecture and design practice around the globe. They are reflected in the work of many contemporary artists, some in the mainstream art world and others who choose to live and work close to nature. Artists, particularly indigenous artists, have always worked in the 'art meets nature' space 'connecting to culture and Country'.

Creative practitioners (artists, designers & makers), like scientists, play a significant role in monitoring, nurturing and interpreting the beauty, complexity and fragility of the natural world. biophiliarts.com contextualizes artists, architects and designers (and organizations) who connect us to the biodiversity of the planet.

Image: Nexus by Jason de Caires Taylor - ocean deep regeneration of coral life.

Djinjama means to make, complete, produce or build something in Dhurga language, one of the languages from the South Coast of New South Wales.

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Djinjama Indigenous Corporation was established by Dr Danièle Hromek (Budawang/Yuin) in 2020 after many years of consulting, practice and research. Offering cultural design and research for projects in the built environment, Djinjama brings Country into the centre of the design process in order to substantially affect Indigenous rights and elevate culture in the built environment and bring health to Country.

Based on methods Danièle’s grandmother Gloria uses for connecting with Country, alongside methodologies further developed in her research and previous work experience, Djinjama uses an approach that is led by and centred on Country. This approach recognises the multiple perspectives of Knowledge Holders to design in collaboration with Country.

Respect & Recognition

Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) represents Traditional Owners from the Brataualung, Brayakaulung, Brabralung, Krauatungalung and Tatungalung family clans, who were recognised in the Native Title Consent Determination, made under the new Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010, the first such agreement under that Act. GLAWAC co-manages the Bataluk Trails

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This Art-Nature-Tourism destination is an outdoor museum in Northern Italy, a tourism drawcard that blends mountain hiking with contemporary art. Set in spectacular Alpine landscapes, Val di Sella, with its forests, woodland glades and summer pastures is around 900 meters above sea-level and surrounded by mountains, which rise almost sheer to a series of a dozen peaks over 2,000 meters high.

This remote and beautiful region is fighting off a shattering attack of the COVID -19 pandemic. This blog is a tribute to the people and culture of Trentino, their strength and perseverance. It is also to highlight Arte Sella: Contemporary Mountain to Australian tourists who love Italy and will return.

It is an Art-Nature-Tourism model to inspire creative tourism development in remote and regional Australia following our devastating bush fires in January 2020.

Connecting Gippsland through positive storytelling.

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Gippslandia is a quarterly magazine in newspaper format, for, and about, Gippsland. It’s an ever-optimistic take on regional, national and global issues, in a local context. Oh, and it’s free.

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The title pays homage (with our tongue firmly in cheek) to the US offbeat comedy, Portlandia, which so cleverly satires the unique nuances of their population. Inspired by a current affair and analysis-focused titles, such as Monocle or Assemble Papers, and the Melbourne street press paper Broadsheet have also influenced Gippslandia. In fact, we believe Gippslandia will likely find a home in a magazine stack alongside the aforementioned titles – as Gippslandians love to stay informed. The newspaper isn’t right-leaning, nor is it left, and it most certainly will not be down (there’ll be no negativity in these pages). Instead, Gippslandia will keep its outlook directed up – promoting stories of success and innovation, seeding ideas for positive change and spreading the upside of life in Gippsland.

Nature Inspired Innovation

Biomimicry is an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies.

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The goal is to create products, processes, and policies—new ways of living—that are well-adapted to life on earth over the long haul.

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The core idea is that nature has already solved many of the problems we are grappling with. Animals, plants, and microbes are the consummate engineers. After billions of years of research and development, failures are fossils, and what surrounds us is the secret to survival.

Explore the Biomimicry Institute site for inspiration from the global network.

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Small & Vibrant - Punching Above Its Weight

Housed in the original shire building of 1868 in the hub town of East Gippsland, Bairnsdale, the gallery is a vital aspect of our regional tourism economy. Run by a dynamic trio of arts professionals, it kicks well above its weight by supporting local artists and indigenous culture, engaging the community, young people and artists in interpreting and  promoting the distinct natural beauty of the region and its wildlife.  Glass Artists Crystal Stubbs is Director assisted by photographer and media artist, Lisa Roberts.

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Design + Nature + Community

MAD’s “Tunnel of Light”, the restoration of the Kyotsu Gorge Tunnel in Japan’s Nigata prefecture, is an artistic transformation that demonstrates how art and nature can come together to reinvigorate a community. Each one of the installations, forms a poetic space where visitors can transcend the role of observer, and become an active participant – allowing individuals to place themselves in nature in unexpected ways.”

Heritage & Conservation

Leading Greek Landscape Architect Thomas Doxiadis heads up the Athens based practice which taps into the naturalness of the Greek landscape: its ruins, textures, rocks, plants, trees, villages, goats and bucolic sounds.

He leads a team of landscape architects with a passion for design, and a deep belief in the need for humanity to reconnect with nature.

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doxiadis+ has delivered high quality projects of different scales and types, ranging from national environmental policy, master-planning and landscape architecture and interior design.

FLOAT is a Small Town Transformations project based at Lake Tyers Beach, East Gippsland, Victoria.

WHAT IS FLOAT?
FLOAT is a STUDIO – for lake-loving artists-in-residence and environmental scientists
FLOATing on Lake Tyers. 
FLOAT is an ARTWORK in itself
FLOAT will provide a model for creative environmental stewardship in small towns.
We will build a COMMUNIVERSITY based on what we learn..
FLOAT will tell the world what a special place we have.
And remind us all to protect it, to enjoy it, to explore it.
To galvanise us all a little more, to do that - with gusto!
And to connect us across the Lake Tyers Catchment - with our mutual love of stories, knowledge, & nature.
We expect it to drive economic outcomes as a model for small towns.

IMAGE: Kevin LINCOLN Untitled, 2020 Oil on canvas 51 x 55.5cm Courtesy the artist and Niagara Galleries, Melbourne. © The artist
 
Exhibition: Kevin Lincoln: Evoking Gippsland
Paintings & Drawings, 1981-2022

The Gippsland Art Gallery is situated at the Port of Sale, overlooking stunning waterways and parkland. Every year the Gallery hosts around twenty exhibitions of local, national and international significance, in addition to ongoing and evolving displays of the permanent collection. Housed in the Wellington Centre together with the Sale Library and Sale Visitor Centre, there is always plenty to see and do!
Director, Simon Gregg,has developed a curatorial style and collection policy that celebrates and interprets the unique 'art + nature' connection in Gippsland.