With moth | Sue Peachey

Sue Peachey's With moth was developed following her selection as the winner of the ACT Historic Places Art Prize – Craft + Design Award 2023. This prize, proudly supported by Craft + Design Canberra, is part of their ongoing partnership with ACT Historic Places, fostering artistic engagement with Canberra's cultural and natural heritage. As part of her award, Sue was invited to present this solo exhibition in their gallery, further developing her lines of enquiry. Sue Peachey continues her inquiry into humanity's relationship with the natural world. This body of work returns to the collection of Canberra's historic Lanyon Homestead. It pairs utilitarian objects observed in the outbuildings of the homestead with endemic moth species. This pairing acknowledges the physical labour undertaken by workers and investigates the effect of the colonial endeavour on the natural environment. Referencing Victorian sensibilities, the themes of cheap labour, the extraction of resources, industrialisation, the introduction of pest species, and the importation of goods, values and religion are explored.