A Lost Place

Burning an area larger than England and killing or harming three billion animals, the fires marked one of the most devastating ecological disasters in the country's history.
As such events intensify with rising global temperatures, the project examines the relationship between colonialism and climate change. Working directly on her photographic prints—adding and removing layers of paint and ink—Casey transforms the landscapes into emotionally charged surfaces.
These gestures echo both the physical destruction of the fires and her own fear and anger, becoming a metaphor for humanity's impulse to control the natural world while also seeking moments of beauty and hope amid loss. The altered landscapes are juxtaposed with archival images of preserved animal specimens, including native species and animals introduced during colonisation.
By highlighting the historical links between 19th-century scientific practice, scientific exhibitions, and colonial ideology, the book reveals how Australia's colonial legacy continues to shape contemporary ecological crises. The book utilises a trifold design in which two hand-bound sections are joined together to overlap and intersect, the interlacing of the pages acting as a visual symbol for the undeniable interconnectedness of history, colonial practices, the environment and humanity's uncertain future.