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Join Peter Osborn as he presents Black Soil, the culmination of research undertaken for his PhD at UniSQ. At the heart of his research, a simple question… How is human relationship with the natural world captured and advanced through the creation of fine art? In this research Osborn has worked closely with the natural environment in which he lives on the Southern Darling Downs. Osborn has produced drawing and ceramic sculpture through studio and field practice working directly in and with material from the location, particularly working with the black soil and weathered basalt to make glazes for the ceramics.

The practice has generated outcomes that created a working structure for observation and experimentation without preconception, enabling the artistic process to yield knowledge and understanding. Essentially the practice has become an exploration of the hidden potential that nature holds and as such expressing nature and humanity as part of the living universe in which we exist.

The works take the form firstly of drawing and painting. Plein air drawing and painting with materials that include ash and soil provide a way to become immersed and related to place. The ceramic works seek to uncover the beauty and potential of the site through the use of gestural forms and glazes from site materials.

Where a scientific investigation seeks quantifiable results in the form of scientific data, art seeks to transcend the material and understand the essential connection of humanity to nature. This is contrasted to the viewpoint that humanity is separate from nature in a subject-object relationship. Viewing the natural world as an endless resource for humanity to exploit for its own material gain and amenity has led to the extreme environmental situation that we live in. A holistic outlook that recognises the common spirit of existence present throughout our universe gives rise to an attitude of value to preserve this world from further harm. This is a view that David Attenborough in his recent documentary A life on Earth in which he states that it is time that we now again accept that humanity is part of nature.