Understories highlights endangered species' plight through installation, sculpture

Tim Cruchet still vividly remembers the "Black Summer" bushfires, which led to the death and displacement of a large number of animals. He recalls, "Koalas were on fire, seeking shelter from people after leaving the fire." This memory prompted Cruchet to create a skeletal model of a koala, one of the species featured in the "Underground Stories" exhibition currently on display at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery.

Cruchet stated that he browsed approximately 36,000 photos, which is roughly the number of koalas remaining in New South Wales. He and two other artists collaborated to create a hidden world featuring interactive multimedia, sound, and sculptural installations, highlighting the impact of humans on eight endangered species. Cruchet said, "The exhibition uses a monochrome palette and high contrast so that the audience can truly immerse themselves in the experience of each species. This experience will make a deeper impression."

Cruchet expressed that he doesn't want to tell people how they should feel, but he hopes that the audience can take something away from it. He said, "Hopefully, this will spark difficult conversations about our impact on the planet." Collaborator Chris Orchard said the project was inspired by a massive emergence of cicadas one night. He said, "It was like a sound we hadn't heard in a long time. How do we make people aware of what's missing by presenting things?"

The team began by selecting birds, marsupials, and insects that are "endemic" to the Wagga Wagga and Eastern Riverina regions. Orchard said, "Many species have already disappeared here due to the impact of climate change and various other factors." The regent honeyeater is one of the species that has been silenced by the disaster. Orchard said, "These species are now geographically very isolated and small in number, and they have lost their song." Due to habitat loss and predation, only 300 regent honeyeaters remain in the wild.

Orchard said, "They need their songs to breed... This species needs to be able to hear each other and sing." Some of the works in the series are programmed to react to the audience, prompting them to reflect and respect the environment, avoiding loud noises and using flash photography. Orchard hopes that people will have a deeper understanding of the world and the beauty we are facing losing. He said, "Really think about what is disappearing around us. I hope people walk out saying, 'I want to be more actively involved in the world I'm in.'" The "Underground Stories" exhibition will be on display at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery until January 19, 2025.