Revisiting Phyllium giganteum homo insecta

Pictured above: my watercolour Phyllium giganteum homo insecta, 2018, 41.91 x 29.72 cm, currently hanging in the foyer of Maroondah Federation Estate Gallery. 

The work was originally shortlisted for the R & M McGivern Prize 2019; the theme that year was Anthropocene. Suspended between science and science fiction, Phyllium giganteum is part of the Order of Homo insecta, a highly evolved species wherein human and nature are intertwined. 

Phyllium giganteum homo insecta was subsequently acquired from Anthropocene for the permanent collection of Maroondah City Council Art Collection. 

Many thanks to Rona Green for the photo.

Recent acquisition by Maroondah City Council Art Collection

Pictured with Phyllium giganteum homo-insecta on Thursday 28 November 2019 at the launch of Anthropocene, 
the 2019 R & M McGivern Prize, at Maroondah Federation Estate Gallery. Photo credit: Shane Jones.

Last week I received the happy news that my watercolour, Phyllium giganteum homo-insecta (2018), currently part of Anthropocene, the 2019 R & M McGivern Prize, has been acquired for the Maroondah City Council Art Collection. For more about Anthropocene, go HERE.

Phyllium giganteum homo insecta, 2018, watercolour, 41.91 x 29.72 cm.
Maroondah City Council Art Collection. Photo credit: Tim Gresham.

There is still time to catch this superb show, which is exhibited in two venues: 

Maroondah Federation Estate Gallery: 32 Greenwood Ave, Ringwood Vic 3134 

and 

ArtSpace at Realm: Eastland Shopping Centre, 179 Maroondah Hwy, Ringwood Vic 3134.

Anthropocene runs to 1 February 2020.

Opening night: ANTHROPOCENE - The 2019 R & M McGivern Prize

Viewing my watercolour, Phyllium giganteum homo insecta at Maroondah Federation Estate Gallery on the
opening night of the 2019 R & M McGivern Prize. Photo credit: Shane Jones

Yesterday evening, ANTHROPOCENE, the 2019 R & M McGivern Prize, was launched at Maroondah Federation Estate Gallery. The exhibition attracted a record number of 450 entries. From these, 45 finalists were chosen, among them, my watercolour, Phyllium giganteum homo insecta.

For the first time in its history, the show is exhibited over two venues: Maroondah Federation Estate Gallery and ArtSpace at Realm, enabling more works to be included in the show.

ANTHROPOCENE was officially opened by the Mayor of Maroondah, Cr Mike Symon, with a Welcome to Country by Aunty Zeta Thomson, followed by remarks from Perpetual Trustees.

This year's judges were Charlotte Day, Director, Monash University Museum of Art, Penny Teale, Bunjil Place Gallery Curator and Ryan Johntson, Director, Buxton Contemporary. Mr. Johnston (below, third from left), announced the winner of the $25,000 prize, Nadine Christensen (below, second from left).

Congratulations to Nadine, all the finalists and warm thanks to everyone concerned with administration of ANTHROPOCENE.

The exhibition is accompanied by an illustrated catalogue with detailed information on each artist's work and an introductory essay by Emily Jones, Curator Exhibitions and Collection, Maroondah City Council.

ANTHROPOCENE, the 2019 R & M McGivern Prize, runs until 1 February 2020. For further information, go HERE.

ANTHROPOCENE - The R & M McGivern Prize 2019

Deborah Klein, Phyllium giganteum homo insecta, 2018, watercolour, 41.91 x 29.72 cm
Shortlisted for the R & M McGivern Prize 2019
Photo credit: Tim Gresham

The theme of the upcoming R & M McGivern Prize 2019 is Anthropocene, and I'm delighted to be one of the 45 finalists.

The Anthropocene marks the commencement of substantial human impact on our planet’s geology and ecosystems, including climate change. The precise time of its inception is unconfirmed, but possibly dates from as early as 12,000 - 15,000 years ago. The year 1945, commonly referred to as The Great Acceleration, ushered in a period when the impact of humans on this planet would increase more dramatically than ever before. 

Yet the Anthropocene has still to be officially recognised as an official subdivision of ecological time; a final decision is unlikely to be made until at least 2021. Meanwhile, my research anticipates a new epoch: The Great De-acceleration, in which humanity acknowledges its contribution to climate and ecological breakdown and recognises that we are not separate from nature, but an integral part of it.

Phyllium Giganteum homo-insecta, pictured top, hovers at the crossroads of science and science fiction. It is one of a series of ‘unnatural history illustrations’ documenting the advancement of Homo insecta, a highly evolved Order wherein human and nature are one.

Anthropocene will be held across two venues: ArtSpace at Realm and Maroondah Federation Estate Gallery, Ringwood from 23 November 2019 - 2 February 2020. The finalists are listed below:

R & M McGivern Prize Finalist

Some good news on Friday necessitated a trip to the framer on Saturday. My watercolour Phyllium giganteum homo insecta, 2018, is one of 45 finalists (shortlisted from 460 entries) for the R & M McGivern Prize 2019. 

Pictured top: Malcom at Omnus Framing with an earlier watercolour in the series, brought along in order to match frames, and the shortlisted work.

The exhibition of finalists will be held across two venues, ArtSpace at Realm and Maroondah Federation Estate Gallery, Ringwood from 23 November 2019 to 2 February 2020. Further details will be posted nearer the time.