Natural History
Stills Gallery, Sydney, 2006.
Queensland Centre for Photography, Brisbane, 2006.
Johnston Gallery, Perth, 2006.
Centre for Contemporary Photography,Melbourne, 2006.
This work depicts a number of animal species in artificial environments. Increasingly we live in modern societies where we are detached from the natural world. The encounters with animals that we do have are often in zoos or museums. This work seeks to amplify the artificial nature of these encounters and to prompt reflection on the impact we have on other animal species and their habitats.
The title Natural History refers to the scientific study of animals and in this case refers to the public displays of animals found in natural history museums around the world.
Scientists have revealed that the world could lose up to half of its species by the end of this century. It seems we are destroying habitats so rapidly, that some animals and plants are failing to regenerate and so reducing biodiversity.
This work depicts a time in the future when a number of different animal species have been lost or are under threat in the wild. As more and more animal species continue to disappear, this work provides a space where we can reflect on the diversity of the animal world and our relationship to it.
The animals in this work have been photographed in zoos, agricultural shows, museums and animals sanctuaries around Australia.
Three images from the Natural History series have been purchased by the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Art Museum with the assistance of The Betty Quelhurst Gift. The images purchased are Study of a lion: Panthera leo, Study of a calf: Bos taurus and Study of a swan: Cygnus bewikii.
During the exhibition of Natural History at Johnston Gallery in Perth, Beverley was interviewed by Nyanda Smith of the West Australian newspaper. The interview was published on 26 July 2006 in the West Australian and was subsequently picked up by Photoshop News for publication online.
Natural History was reviewed by Alasdair Foster in Photofile (Australian Centre for Photography publication). The entire issue was devoted to artist's works that are linked by the common theme of 'animals'. In describing Natural History, Alasdair Foster said "Seductive as these images are, the message they bring us is sobering and urgent."
