Biography

Apocalypse Unfolding
Grainger Gallery Feb 2024

The Apocalypse Has Come.
Apocalypse Unfolding explores the tension between nature’s fragility and the looming
environmental catastrophe on the horizon.
The volcanic glaze bases evoke landscapes shaped by fire and time—surfaces that appear
molten, eroded, bubbling, and unpredictable. Contaminated ooze consumes the last remnants
of fractured earth. Clinging to these rugged forms are delicate bone china insects, frozen in
moments of struggle. Their ghostly translucence contrasts with the raw, eruptive foundations,
emphasizing the precarious balance between decay and survival.
The insects, meticulously constructed representations of Australian arthropods, are assembled
from fragile bone china burnouts—the remnants left after plant matter is encased in clay and
incinerated. Hollow yet eerily resilient, they simultaneously evoke traces of life and loss. This
process of transforming organic matter into brittle clay forms is central to Mahala’s
exploration of environmental change—what has happened and what is happening now.
Fire, both destructive and transformative, plays a crucial role in shaping these forms. The
kiln’s heat distorts and refines, leaving behind raw, dynamic textures that seem to pulse with
energy, as if the base might continue to evolve before the viewer’s eyes.
The apocalyptic landscapes and reanimated insects challenge our perception of reality and the
future we face if we continue to ignore environmental threats. By distorting familiar
perspectives, I aim to provoke thought and raise questions about our role in the endangerment
of Australian species.