Return of wallabies to Maribyrnong: Matthew Clarke

Enamoured with the vibrant world that surrounds him, Matthew Clarke paints his subjects with an unquestionable spontaneity and conviction. His works tell of an effervescent ecology bursting at the seams with eccentric and dynamic characters. Return of wallabies to Maribyrnong is a jubilant exhibition that celebrates local, thriving ecosystems.

Up until the 1870s, swamp wallabies were a common site along the banks of the Maribyrnong River. Through invasive farming techniques and industrialisation of the area, the natural habitat of the swamp wallabies has since degraded over time.

Growing up in Kirkstall—a farmland area outside Warrnambool—Matthew has since been inspired by the town’s steady revegetation of native flora throughout the 1980s and ‘90s. This environmental reclamation has led to wallabies returning to the area, and inspiring Matthew’s painting, drawing, lino-cuts and sculptures of wallabies ever since.

Upon his first visit to Incinerator Gallery, Matthew similarly observed the rehabilitation and revegetation of the nearby Maribyrnong River. For this exhibition, the artist draws environmental parallels between Kirkstall and Moonee Valley, along with their flood plains. Wallabies are now common on the upper stretches of the Maribyrnong River and on rare occasions have said to been seen nearby the gallery. This exhibition is a celebration of the return of the wallabies.