Phoebe Maroulis / Artlands 2023

I am an emerging multidisciplinary artist and custodian of Country in the Australian rangelands. My creative practice explores how art can be a tool to inspire ecological action.

As I move into the next phase of life, I see a need for humanity to re-member our deep and universal need for connection to nature.

My current body of work is an exploration of how one receives, interprets, translates and expresses thoughts and how we, collectively, can be moved to action through the arts. I believe that our ability to be still, to listen for the guidance of Country, and the discernment of our hearts, is one of our most precious human capacities. Our ability to trust ourselves to act on the truest impulses is the foundation of a rich humanity.

My current collection of works are a reflection on Country, as a living entity, with her own voice. I wonder what Country is wanting us to hear and what I, as a non-Indigenous, female farmer, have the right and responsibility to speak. I question what needs to be said through me, how I can serve the greater good, and what form that takes. In the stillness, when I am out on Country, I feel an acute sense of nourishment and clarity. My sincere hope is that through my work, others get a taste of this too.

I believe that each of us carries a unique piece of life's puzzle, our entelechy, our soul song, and that we have a responsibility to use it well. As I move into the next phase of my life, I am committed to using my voice, as both artist and grazier, to inspire ecological action and promote custodianship of the land.