4th Convention for Maltese Living Abroad, Valletta, Malta

Mark was invited to speak at the 4th Convention for Maltese Living abroad, where he presented his paper Journeys in Identity: Social and Environmental Planning. Mark's paper was a part of a workshop titled Identity, Culture and Language Maintenance, and was moderated by Dr Carmen Sammut and Dr Stephen Gatt (pictured). The convention is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 4th Convention for Maltese Living Abroad, Valletta, Malta

Dekton by Cosentino

Mark was commissioned by Holt Design to create 3 images for Dekton by Cosentino. Mark designed the architecture and placed the Dekton 'follies' into stock images to illustrate the material's ability to withstand heat, cold and dust. Dekton by Cosentino

Gorman Commission

Mark created a new 1000mm x 1600mm painting for the Gormans. Gorman Commission

Lunawanna alonnah - Chippendale New World Art Prize finalist

"I escaped the city a few months ago and found paradise in Lunawanna alonnah (Bruny Island, Tasmania), where rolling hills meet the sea, broken only by the vertical strokes of blue gums. I sat making studies on a steep grassy hill overlooking a tranquil bay. As I drew, I could feel something from the past in the land. I was especially mesmerised by the enormity of the Blue Gum trees with hollowed bases that surrounded me, wondering if they might have been used for something. I later went on to discover that in 1792, a French biologist by the name of Jaques Labillardière, commented on these same large hollows at the base of standing trees. He noted that they were being used as cooking areas by the Nuenonne people, part of the south east tribe of Aboriginal Tasmanians, and that the Nuenonne occasionally used these hollows for shelter. Other early European explorers noted that the Nuenonne were a peaceful people existing in a bountiful place with plentiful resources, everything one would need.

Like many indigenous Australians, the Nuenonne lived in an earthly paradise where there was a balance between using resources and respecting nature. But sadly that ideal life came to an end when they were wiped out by bullets and disease. In 1876, with the death of Truganini, the last Nuenonne, an indigenous people had become extinct.

The act of making this life size pencil work on paper for the Chippendale New World Art Prize comes from a clear space for me - I simply want its power and beauty to be a memorial of an old way of living. I would like people to reflect on how the Nuenonne used to live in peace in nature and how this can inspire perceptions of possible new worlds. This tree hollow can stand as a symbol that sees a new world where people accept each other as they are, without causing harm to one another. To me, this would be utopia." - Mark Gerada

Mark Gerada illustration Lunawanna trees

Brueggemann Commissions

Mark completed two large scale painting commissions for the Brueggemann family. The paintings, measuring 1380x2030mm and 2300x600mm are titled Follow your dreams and Horizon. mark gerada painting comission

Sideboard

Mark designed and built a steel and plywood sideboard with his grandfather. The timber top is his grandfather's old work bench top. sideboard

Fraser Suites Sydney

Fraser Suites Sydney purchased paintings by Mark Gerada for their new conference area, adding to their collection of Mark's paintings. Click image to see large.

frasers suites paintings

Koala Land Exhibition at UTS DABLAB

Koala Land Exhibition at UTS DABLAB from August 21 - September 13, 2013. See how innovative visual communication design can influence government, industry the general public by raising awareness around the issues of the detrimental influx of humans to the natural koala habitat of the Queensland Koala Coast.

Click image to see large.

koalaland exhibition at UTS DAB LAB

Biocup

Mark's Sustainability illustration was used to adorn a limited edition BioCup Art Series to promote environmental issues. Click image to see large.

biocup

Let's try to build mountains - Chippendale New World Art Prize finalist

"When I first saw the artist's impressions of Atelier Jean Nouvel's One Central Park back in 2008, I wondered how possible it was to build these buildings. While I found the impressions to be a vague and noncommittal, I was impressed by the generous walls of lush vegetation. These towering hanging gardens reminded me of mountains... what a bold gesture to make! Now that Nouvelle's buildings have become a reality and are nearing completion, I can see how some of the buildings are meeting up to the artist's impressions. As the green walls are planted and begin to grow, the drabness of the urban surroundings are being revitalised by nature. This is exciting... how far can we go?

I love the city, and I love buildings, but I do wonder how far developers will go to impress their markets. While I am interested in developing better understandings of our relationship with land, and in particular, how the city responds to nature, I constantly experience the dichotomy of the urban and nature. I am drawn to the power and beauty of nature, and yet I love the city, just as more and more of the planet’s population does. But in order for cities to survive, and arguably, humanity, we need to listen to and learn from nature. I hope that Nouvel's One Central Park stands as a creative example of how city buildings and nature can come together, and I hope that the building and it's hanging gardens stand up to the test of time.

My painting 'Let's try to build mountains' is a warning - we must be careful as we attempt to build bigger, bolder and better, and it cannot just be about impressing people. We must think and design creatively and sustainably." - Mark Gerada.

Click image to see large.

Mark Gerada - Lets try to build mountains