quietism #3 . . . by fire

Fire is both a biological turning point and a cultural constant. It enabled early human survival and became the setting for storytelling, knowledge exchange, and ritual. Today, in affluent Western contexts, fire survives in symbolic forms—barbecues, fire pits, curated flame—stripped of urgency but rich in association. Its raw beauty continues to captivate: dynamic, luminous, and unpredictable. Yet in Australia’s warming climate, fire is increasingly volatile—destroying ecosystems, homes, and communities. This series of images considers fire as an elemental force, shaped by human hands and now shaping human futures. It is both origin and omen.

As I move around, near my home in Western Victoria, Australia, I often light fires in the cooler months for warmth, cooking, and for reasons less easily identified. I do so across the traditional lands of the Wadawurrung, Dja Dja Wurrung, Wotjobaluk and Jaadwa peoples. I pay my respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. As a guest, I adhere to the 'leave no trace' principle and extend my acknowledgment to the environment as a living entity in itself.