ABOVE & BELOW

Tasha has joined forces with Rachel Harris who also specialises in realistic colour pencil drawings. Their first exhibition, Above and Below, is the culmination of two years of work and explores the connections between art, science, and conservation. It aims to foster a sense of stewardship in the local community: first by generating interest and connection with Tasmania’s unique local fauna; then building awareness of the threats to their survival and the ways in which we can help protect them. Colour pencil is not a widely used artistic medium - it is painstakingly slow to work with, and a single drawing can take several weeks to complete. However, it allows for the creation of beautifully life-like drawings, full of meticulous details of fur, feathers, eyes, whiskers and scales. The detail in the work is what brings our native animals to life. The artists’ intention is to let the viewer see the animals’ personalities, to make eye contact, evoke an emotional response, and build connection. Tasmanian animals are so unique, but they face a multitude of threats to their survival. If we can encourage appreciation of the beauty of our wildlife, that can lead to an interest or desire to support their survival. If we can encourage exhibition visitors to support conservation efforts, and maybe even bring a piece of Tasmania into their homes, that’d be wonderful.