Alanah Forbes

Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College, VCE Art Creative Practice

Flicker of wings 2025
ink, synthetic polymer paint and crushed gold leaf on compressed wood boards

Artist statement:

Flicker of wings reveals the hidden consequences of light pollution through the movements of native Bogong moths. Their clustered, swirling forms symbolise the disorientation caused by artificial light, transforming natural migration patterns into chaos. The use of reflective surfaces, along with sharp contrasts between light and dark, mirrors the way urban illumination interrupts the rhythms of the natural world.

The work draws on the geography of Mount Buller, a significant migration destination for Bogong moths, juxtaposed with the nearby town of Mansfield whose light pollution intrudes upon this fragile environment. Flicker of wings considers the delicate balance between ecological survival and the demands of urbanisation.