Project: ‘Nothofagus gunnii’
A country filled to the brim with evergreen foliage, Australia is home to only one native species of temperate deciduous bush – Nothofagus gunnii. Typically taking on the form of thick scrub or ground cover (though it can reach heights of up to 8 metres in the form of a tree), it resides solely in the temperate highlands of Tasmania. Related to Patagonia’s lenga trees (Nothofagus pumilio) via their ancient Gondwanaland connection, it turns vibrant shades of yellow, orange and red for a special few weeks a year. In this project I wanted to portray the beautiful and unique forms that “fagus” takes – from its ridged colourful leaves to its tangled white branches and patchwork-quilt-like ground cover, as well as its interactions with other elements in the landscape.
