-By Kim Parnell-
Where Wonder Meets Warning: Inside Helen Aland’s A Shift in the Paddock
Whimsical, immersive and quietly confronting, A Shift in the Paddock by Helen Aland transforms the bushland of Tinana into a world of curious characters, layered meaning and environmental reflection. Through illustrations, Helen explores the fragile beauty of the natural world — and the human impact changing it. We spoke with the artist about the inspiration behind the exhibition, her creative process and the deeper message woven through the work.
Exhibition aside, tell us a little about yourself and your love of art.
I was born in Penang, grew up in Brisbane, then moved to the Northern Territory in 1998, where I lived for 23 years. I came to the Fraser Coast about five years ago. I was drawn to Maryborough because of its old houses, buildings and rich history which I love, and I also have family in Hervey Bay.
I’ve always loved being creative and I work across lots of mediums. Clay is something I always return to, but I also love paper, collage, drawing and painting. I taught myself metalsmithing and made silver jewellery for a while, and I’ve also worked with porcelain and throwing. Since moving back to Queensland, I’ve returned to clay in a more sculptural way. I tend to move between mediums depending on what inspires me.
Your exhibition at Gatakers Artspace has been described as both whimsical and foreboding. How did you balance playfulness with the environmental warning at its core?
I’m not even sure if I did balance it, but I hope I have. I’ve got a bit of a strange sense of humour, so coming up with these maladapted creatures felt quite natural.
The exhibition is inspired by Police Paddock at Tinana. When I moved here, I really missed being immersed in nature. In the Territory, the bush was right there at my back door. Here, I was looking for somewhere that felt untouched and someone suggested Police Paddock. A soon as I got there, I felt restored. It was birdsong, smells, sounds — proper bushland. It became a really important place for me.
But as I walked there more often, I started noticing cigarette butts, food packaging, dog waste and signs of people not respecting the environment. That got me thinking about human interference and how deeply it affects these spaces.
How do you weave that environmental message into the work itself?
Birds became central to the exhibition. Police Paddock has a wonderful list of bird and animal life, and I started paying close attention to them. I love expressing emotion through faces and gestures, so I began giving the birds human-like characteristics.
Some of them are quirky — growing cigarettes out of their hair or becoming overweight from eating chips instead of natural food. There’s humour there, but also discomfort. The characters show emotions like freedom, happiness and loss.
What does your artistic process look like?
I mainly work with pencil and watercolour gouache. I’ll often begin with a very light sketch, then build with paint and come back in at the end with graphite and pencil detail. Most of the imagery comes straight from my imagination, though I do use reference photos to study the birds more closely.
Your uncanny characters are incredibly striking. What role do they play in helping people connect emotionally with environmental change?
I want people to laugh at first — to get a little giggle — and then stop and think, “Hang on, that’s not right. Why have they changed? What have we done?”
If people can feel amusement and concern at the same time, then hopefully they’ll reflect more deeply on what’s happening in our natural spaces.
Exhibition details:
The exhibition runs through until Saturday, May 30.
Entry is free.
Gatakers Artspace
311 Kent Street, Maryborough
Gallery opening hours:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday to Friday: 9.30am – 3.30pm
Saturday to Sunday: 9.30am – 2pm
