After the fires

"After the fire" reflects the resilience of people and communities whose lives are deeply connected to the landscapes shaped by cycles of fire and recovery and renewal. Inspired by the increasing impact of bushfire, the work acknowledges both personal and environmental loss while celebrating the extraordinary capacity to rebuild. The scorched upper area of the painting gives way to white birds and emerging flora, symbolising hope, adaptation and the quiet persistence of life. This painting is both an elegy and an affirmation, celebrating the enduring Australian spirit through resilience, regeneration and the belief that even after the devastation, life continues to flourish.