Cultural Burn — Hand-painted artwork on fine art paper

Cultural Burn is a hand-painted artwork created using charcoal, ochre, and acrylic on fine art paper. The work draws on cultural burning as a knowledge system — one that is relational, seasonal, and deeply connected to Country, people, and responsibility.

Vertical forms move through the composition like tree trunks, but they also hold human presence. The silhouettes of a woman and a man are embedded within the work, their bodies becoming extensions of the landscape — grounded like trees, shaped by Country. In one form, an arm transforms into a spear or tree, reflecting the inseparability of people, tools, and environment.

The red ochre represents fire — not as destruction, but as an active, caring force. Fire here is intentional and measured, painted as movement and energy rather than flame. The black areas reference ash after a cool burn, entering the soil and returning nutrients back to the ground. This cycle speaks to renewal, balance, and long-term care.

White lines and forms carry cultural and ceremonial meaning, holding space for practice, law, and continuity. Crossing lines reference nets, baskets, and mats made from grasses — technologies of survival and care that come directly from Country. These patterns sit alongside straight lines that represent grasses and plants that require fire to regenerate and be managed properly.

Dots throughout the work reference trees whose seeds require fire to crack open — species that depend on burning to continue. These plants provide shelter, food, medicine, and resources, reinforcing the idea that fire is not separate from life, but essential to it when practiced correctly.

Swirling lines speak to water held in the ground beneath the surface — moisture that protects soil from damage and supports regeneration after burning. Water and fire exist together here, not in opposition, but in balance.

Through layered pattern, material, and form, Cultural Burn communicates that cultural burning is not a single act, but a system of knowledge passed through observation, practice, and responsibility. The work reflects how fire, water, people, plants, and animals are bound together — each depending on the other for life to continue.

Artwork details

• Original hand-painted artwork on A2 fine art paper

• Created using charcoal, ochre, and acrylic paint

• One-of-a-kind work, signed by the artist

• Sold unframed and carefully packaged for delivery