2024

GLOBAL WARMING IS REAL EXHIBITION

DEANNE PALMER

DEANNE PALMER

(Gladesville, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA)

Fluoresce

encaustic, shellac, gold leaf, 11 x 8 inches

Artist Statement:

Rising ocean temperatures caused by climate change is the primary cause of mass coral bleaching seen globally over the past twenty years. Not all corals bleach to white. Some have fluorescent pigments that act as a protective barrier, like sunscreen, when bleached. Although beautiful in appearance it is the corals effort to survive the effects of climate change. Recent devastation to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef compelled me to investigate the process of healing oceanic vulnerability. 

‘Fluorese’ extols the proactivity taken for reef restoration in “the world’s largest collaborative effort to protect an ecosystem from climate change” (Great Barrier Reef Foundation 2023). In coral restoration projects across the world, many innovative scientific solutions have been introduced into damaged reefs and act as forms of Kintsugi, or allegorically the gold that ties together broken pieces.

This encaustic vessel holds the space that illuminates the progress towards repair of our reefs. ‘Fluorese’ invites us to view this change as an opportunity to expand our thinking about what’s possible and embrace further sustainable recovery practices that will enable us to heal the wounds of global warming. 

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