Eav Brennan
Naturalist
I make art, tell stories and teach with plants, animals, rocks, fungi and people
I practice creative nature writing through literary comics. My work blends magic realism, folklore and non-fiction with a strong focus on materiality.
Current Project: Anthropocene Naturalist
I am currently exploring ideas around making the curiosity, wonder and whimsy that historically surrounds the naturalist tradition. Working as an environmental educator, I see every day how a single point of connection can help people learn and think about their ecological situation. My work seeks to understand how we can continue such a tradition of observation, mindful existence and care, while righting the colonialist and extractive practices of the past.
Latest blog post
Sydney freshwater streams and creeks
A reflection on an endangered ecosystem This post is about the ecosystem more than the scroll I’ve made. I used very similar methods to the scroll I made about Eastern Suburbs Banksia scrub. There’s more detail about the crafting and materials in that post. If you would like to explore your local waterways make sure…
Timewalking with Naturalist Kitsch
Making soft sculptures to reimagine the ethical framework of naturalist collections A key idea of the Anthropocene Naturalist project is how to reinvent the extractive and colonialist practices of the naturalist tradition, while capturing its curiosity, attention to detail and connection to the more-than human. Collections have always been a part of the western scientific…
Past Project: Graphic Ecology, 2024
Published in 2024 with Dr Caitlyn Forster, Graphic Ecology is a comic essay on how to tell ecological stories in comic form.
Forever Project: Mending, upcycling and gathering
Crafting with reclaimed wood and fabric is how I ground my practice in community and family. Employing the techniques I learned from my mother and grandmother in sewing and crochet, gathering to communally craft and trade wares are the moments I feel truly rooted in my ecosystem. I use these approaches to foster care and action for environmental justice.
Eav Brennan 