Visual Arts

Over the last two weeks, 30 students in Level 2 have had their ‘Bogong Moth’ artwork displayed in The Track Gallery in Mount Waverley as part of the “Under Bunjil’s Wings” exhibition. 

This was an amazing opportunity for some of our young artists to see their work in a professional gallery setting. 

Please read on to see information about creating our artwork and a photo of one of our Level 2 students, Adele S, pointing out her artwork!

Students began by viewing artworks of the Bogong Moth by Aboriginal artists Reko Rennie and Deanne Gilson and examining the differences between the way these two artists made representations of the moth. 

Students also learnt about why the Bogong Moth was important to both the Aboriginal people and our native Mountain Pygmy Possum. 

A long time ago (we discussed that this was before we could pop into Coles for some fruit or go to the 7 Eleven for a slushie!) the Aboriginal people used to eat the Bogong Moth as it is highly nutritious. The Bogong Moth is also a major food source for our endangered Mountain Pygmy Possum.

These striking artworks were made by combining the techniques of printmaking, painting, using dye in spray bottles, collage and incorporating natural found materials such as paperbark and sticks. A key artistic focus was the use of symmetry, reflecting the natural patterns of the moth itself.

Bogong Moth by Reko Rennie

National Museum of Australia

Bogong Moth by Deanne Gilson 

National Gallery of Australia

Kate McKavanagh and Kathleen McSweeney

Visual Art Teachers