On the Brink - Original painting on canvas by Deb Henley - framed artwork

'On the Brink'

Deb Henley
2025

Acrylic paint on 12oz cotton 590gsm stretched canvas 
Framed 780mm W x 1030mm H  with shadow box frame in light Tas oak

'On the Brink'  explores the effects of mass coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

The artwork shows an artistic rendition of the effects of mass coral bleaching on the Reef, depicting it's impact with Deb Henley's artistic interpretation.⁠

The five mass bleaching and mortality events experienced by the reef between 2016 and 2024 were driven by high sea surface temperatures. ⁠
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Reconstructing summer⁠ sea surface temperatures back to the seventeenth century reveals that the recent bleaching events occurred in waters that were the warmest for 400 years. Researchers used geochemical records from coral skeletons⁠ to reconstruct the temperatures back to 1618. Their findings suggest that⁠ warming temperatures will cause increasingly more frequent and intense⁠ bleaching and mortality events — potentially to the point that the reef will⁠ struggle to recover.⁠

With Deb's deep observation into the reefs greatest challenge, her artistic interpretation explores the devastation, void of the vibrancy she often paints with.

This artwork is on exhibit at Premaydena Hill Cellar Door & is available for collection or for postage/delivery at an arranged time upon purchase

Contact Curator: 

Angela Lowe 

m. 0417638447 

e.  bylanders.tasmania@gmail.com