Rimer Cardillo … and the deep ecology of a sacred nature

Environmental issues (and how they are affected by real politics and economic factors) are a principle focus of Rimer Cardillo’s works since the late 1970s. Throughout the 1980s, Cardillo’s art directly confronts the loss of animal species and the destruction of plant life. Such pressing ecological concerns — latent in Cardillo’s work since the 1960s — increasingly guide the artist’s creative endeavors and become a central theme in his work over the coming decades. Cardillo’s art asserts that the systemic genocide of Aboriginal peoples is inseparable from other forms of loss – whether the destruction of natural habitats, the eradication of biological species, or the very disappearance of genetic diversity. His work explores our human relationship with the natural environment and our responsibilities to protect nature.

Typically, his multimedia work—which ranges from prints to large-scale installations—incorporates found objects and a variety of materials ranging from paper, to clay, to wood. And, it often encompasses genres that can include photography, printmaking, sculpture, and even film. Cardillo’s artistic practice skillfully negotiates a political commitment and methodological facility within image making today. Major series of prints measure out the career and contributions of this prolific artist, and these portfolios convey a graphic facility and subtle variation that enables creative exploration and determined advocacy.