"During the bushfires of 2019/2020, I was in Europe and watched the devastation from afar. It made me realise how tiny a planet Earth is, and how its fragility can impact so many lives. Although the headlines disappeared quickly, the damage the fires caused still remains. My interest in the cycles of nature and the impermanence of our natural surroundings surged my focus to capture the landscape after these events. Through these works I wanted to express death and rejuvenation through colour and mark making, such as carving into the wood, and burning paper.

As a society we expect there will be more fires that will destroy the lives of people and animals, even species.  Yet we are unwilling to truly change our minds, land management policies and methods in order to protect and nurture the ecosystem. I paint the landscape in order to escape the realities of life; except the landscape has become the reality.”

Tiel Seivl-Keevers is a painter with a background in design and illustration. Her work evolves from her interests in the environment and the cycles of life. Through her observations she develops many layers on a variety of surfaces to capture the impermanence of her explorations.