Scott Marsh, Australian, born 1984
The Ivory Tower, 2020
This mural by Scott Marsh was influenced by the movie “Dirty Power: Burnt Country,” which discussed the Australian bushfire crisis. In the film, it was discovered that a majority of news articles from the depicted media moguls denied climate change as a cause for the bushfires. It also showed that the Australian government approved coal mining and had regular meetings with fossil fuel corporations. The seven high-status members illustrated in the ivory tower include: the Prime Minister, former Deputy Prime Minister, as well as media and fossil fuel moguls. The Prime Minister can be seen wearing a Hawaiian shirt and lei because he was on vacation in Hawaii during the bushfire crisis. Marsh wanted to make it clear that because the destruction of these bushfires does not reach the elite, it has no importance to them. Under this tower of denial lies scenes of destruction from these bushfires. This work ties into this week’s topics of climate denial and petro-capitalism. Label by Olivia Falb
Scott Marsh's painting, "The Ivory Tower," vividly underscores the inequalities exacerbated by fires. The artwork, presented in a semi-political cartoon style, depicts the horrors associated with wildfires. It portrays animals and habitats consumed by flames and firefighters battling the inferno. Moreover, it keenly highlights the demographics of people and the natural world that are disproportionately affected by these fires. On the contrasting side of the spectrum, the painting portrays powerful individuals ensconced in their ivory tower. From this lofty vantage point, they callously burn money and appear to deride the catastrophic scene unfolding below. Their dismissive comments, such as labeling concerned individuals as "alarmists," serve as a stark representation of how some politicians deny the realities of climate change. Label by Jackson Smith