MAHARLINA GOROSPE-LOCKIE | ‘King Tide’ | Acrylic on canvas

"A king tide could be good or bad news for dwellers of the coastal tropics. For humans in low lying areas the tide could bring flooding/ property damage/ or isolation. For the plant and animal communities of remnant coastal wetlands  the tide is a time for renewal – a time to feed/ breed/ produce. And what good news that is! The wetlands nurture and protect both their biodiverse inhabitants and their human neighbours. That these ecosystems continue to decline in the face of poorly planned development is the real bad news."

Maharlina Gorospe-Lockie studied visual arts and anthropology and eventually worked in coastal zone management research in the Philippines. She moved to Australia over 20 years ago, living in Yeppoon, Canberra, and currently in Cairns where she is reconnected with the tropics and her art practice reignited by the fragile beauty of tropical coastal environments. Her acrylic landscapes are based on memories and impressions from fieldwork, travel and contemplation

MAHARLINA GOROSPE-LOCKIE | ‘King Tide’ | 2024 | Acrylic on canvas | 914 (h) x 1218 (w) mm