Sunday Arts Magazine

9 May 2022

Right Fire – Linden Gallery

Uncategorized

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In 2018, during the first of two artist residencies with Bundanon Trust, Martin was invited to observe the inaugural Indigenous fire initiatives and cultural burn program undertaken in the lead up to the 10th National Indigenous Workshop on Gumea Dharawal Country, South Coast NSW. The Fire programs were activated by Bundanon Trust on behalf of Firesticks Alliance by Uncle Noel Webster, Elder of Yuin-Walbunja-Murramarrang Country and the Wodi Wodi Traditional Custodians of the Yuin Nation.

Martin’s immersive large-format works explore her passion for the natural environment, documenting changes facilitated to save Country, restore damage incurred by climate change all while generating significant environmental, social and cultural benefits. Martin firmly believes Indigenous custodians hold the link to our fight against the climate crisis.

Martin’s passion to share the visual experience of the Cultural Burn practice became more relevant once she learnt that the areas in which the program was administered were unaffected by the devastating Black Summer fires. Her photography highlights the importance of Indigenous-lead programs and initiatives in managing land and healing our environment. RIGHT FIRE* draws attention to a positive association towards fire, its documentation inspired and reflective of Martin’s exposure to First Nations knowledges embedded in reading the land, soil and fire circles.

With a career spanning 25 years, Lucille Martin is an established Australian contemporary artist whose multidisciplinary practice integrates iPhoneography, photo-media, textile and performance to explore themes related to the natural and physical landscape, the social psyche and deep ecology. For Martin, her application of iPhone-capture acts as an extension of the body in the merging of performative and documentary practices she captures while walking the Australian landscape.

Martin has received significant awards including four Australia Council for the Arts grants, a career fellowship from Department of Culture and the Arts, West Australian and peer-awarded residencies in Tokyo, New York and Australia. Her program of work encompasses curatorial practice, community development, higher education and policy advocacy