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Alex Davern |
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Marion Abraham – Blue Bill Mollison
Bill Mollison is seen as the ‘father of permaculture’; a concept based on the conscious design and maintenance of productive eco systems. Bill was born in 1928 in the small fishing township of Stanley, northern Tasmania. His first wife, Margaret Andrews, is my grandmother. I have chosen Bill as my subject in an attempt to connect his public and private identity. The Bill Mollison I know is very different from the ‘guru’ identity he generates in environmental circles. The main symbolism portrayed in the painting is that of Buddha; embodied by the blue tones of Krishna, Tibetan incense dispenser and red orb. Although far from being Buddha himself, Bill Mollison does nevertheless exemplify the characteristics of a passionate, visionary and driven man. My grandfather’s token animal is the goose – many of which he has always had around him in his gardens. This goose, however, has a golden egg – symbolic of the success the permaculture movement has been for Bill and the diverse profits it has delivered to him. Finally, in my mind my grandfather is a great storyteller. I have painted him in the position of the raconteur, always ready to talk for hours about past travels, gardens and geese.
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