A spellbinding sensory experience that brings the untamed beauty and ecological urgency of the remote Tarkine directly to an Adelaide audience.
Art for Takayna is far more than a traditional gallery exhibition; it is an enveloping, deeply moving call to action. Featuring an elite line-up of cross-disciplinary talent—including Tim Cooper (Tas), Arwen Dyer (Tas), Andrew ‘First Dog On The Moon’ Marlton (Tas), Fiona Francois (Tas), Bianca Hoffrichter (SA), Corrie Hosking (SA), Heidi Kenyon (SA), Kerry Kershaw (Tas), Jon Kudelka (Tas), Karo Lutkiewicz (SA), Dave McEvoy (SA), OAKEY (SA), Jaimee Paul (NSW), Liza Savchuk (SA), Robert Whitson (Vic), and Graham Wilson (NSW)—this collective showcase unites artists who have each been profoundly touched by the spellbinding environment of Tasmania’s takayna / Tarkine.
As Australia’s largest undisturbed tract of rare, cool-temperate rainforest, the Tarkine remains critically vulnerable. Unlike other celebrated wilderness regions, it lacks National Park designation, leaving it exposed to ongoing political battles over logging, mining, and off-road vehicle damage. This urgent exhibition aims to bring that vulnerability to light, and it has found its perfect match in Adelaide’s premier digital art hub, ILA.
Creating a masterful fusion of art and technology, the piece utilises ILA’s state-of-the-art, 50-square-metre wrap-around video wall, so the filmed element of the exhibition completely envelops the audience in breathtaking footage of the ancient forest. This sustained exposure to such a majestic environment creates an instantly magical, almost sacred feeling in the room.
The curation masterfully balances diverse artistic mediums to capture the region’s multifaceted spirit:
Tim Cooper’s striking photography in “Takayna Glow” captures the ethereal, shifting light of the canopy, contrasted beautifully by Kerry Kershaw’s finely detailed, poignant paintings of the endangered Tasmanian Masked Owl.
Andrew ‘First Dog On The Moon’ Marlton injects brilliant, biting humour through his signature cartoon messages. In a bittersweet and deeply moving inclusion, the late, great political cartoonist Jon Kudelka (22/2/1972 – 8/2/2026) reminds us of the wild ferocity of the landscape with his unforgettable depictions of Tasmanian Devils “who will dine out on our bones.”
Seamlessly binding the visual elements together is a magnificent, wholly improvised twelve-minute masterpiece performed on a grand piano by South Australia’s own Dave McEvoy, evoking the raw, unfiltered emotional weight of the wilderness.
Live performance highlights
For those looking to deepen their engagement, the season features a series of all-ages live music events where the sonic and visual worlds collide inside The Lab. Highly anticipated highlights include:
The Naomi Keyte Trio & Tessa Leon (Friday 25 September) – A beautiful marriage of folk sensibilities and evocative spoken-word poetry.
The Dave McEvoy Trio (Friday 9 & Saturday 10 October) – A grand, closing-weekend performance expanding on McEvoy’s improvised forest soundscapes.
Art for Takayna is an absolute must-attend. It brilliantly leverages ILA’s cutting-edge technology not just to display art, but to transport the soul. You will leave the space feeling entirely captivated, deeply connected to the earth, and quite possibly incited to take a stand—whether by making a donation or acquiring a piece of this outstanding artwork to keep the spirit of takayna alive.
5/5 Stars!
Head to the ILA website to book tickets and explore session details.
Immersive Light and Art (ILA), Adelaide | 18 Sep – 10 Oct 2026
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