About

The Carbon_Dating Project (Stage 1) involved a series of artwork-based experiments, and a ‘campaign’, that sought to shift our relationships with Poaceae - those flowering members of the vegetal world known collectively as grasses. In this time of environmental stress, we called upon adventurous humans & vivacious grasses to ‘conspire’ together – to breathe life into radically new kinds of relationships with each other..

Outcomes from Stage 1 are currently on tour both in Australia and internationally between 2024 – 5

View Exhibition Details/Catalogue

Project VIDEOS

Watch 4 short videos about how we setup and ran
the first phase of the Carbon_Dating project (2021-23)
 

WHY GRASSES?

We chose to focus on Australian indigenous grasses because - as plants and then ‘minor ones’ at that for many - we typically disregard them, or consider them uninteresting, weedy or dull; forgetting how dependent we are upon them for our well being. Like the copious amounts of oxygen they give us in return for our exhaled carbon dioxide, grasses remain invisible to most of us. We also find them hard to differentiate - therefore remaining largely unaware that so little of Australia’s indigenous grasslands remain thanks to their almost universal conversion by imported pasture grasses and cereal (grass) crops. And so - as with so many others, these richly biodiverse communities, colonised out of existence have become critically endangered, in most states hanging on by the tiniest of threads.

Why?

By sponsoring the planting of small indigenous grassland areas during 2022-4, we are fostering living sites for our art experiments; as we build a campaign via partnerships built on respect, care, and the dissolving of old ‘us and them’ hierarchies.

Intention?

Our aim is to ask, how can we better seed ‘consensual’ relationships framed by our shared need to breathe each others ‘exhaled’ air. How can we walk alongside grasses, together into a sustained, long future?

First Nations

Carbon Dating's intention and commitment is to include and be led by First Nations perspectives and learnings: by engaging with FN artists and community throughout the process in each location/site. We also acknowledge there is more work to be done in this space as the project progresses.

Grass flower head

GRASSLAND
 PROJECTS

7

Logos of sponsors, Carbon Dating

COLLABORATING SCIENTISTS

3

NUMBER OF
 INTERWEAVERS

6

CARE COMMUNITY 
MEMBERS

200+

THE CREATIVE TEAM

A collaboration between art, ecological science,
human physiology science and the conservation community. Click below to meet the entire team.
‍

Keith Armstrong, Carbon Dating Lead Artist/Director
Donna Davies, Carbon Dating Collaborative Artist
Daniele Constance, Carbon Dating Lead Artist
Andrea Higgins - Carbon Dating's Collaboration Manager and Photographer
Luke Lickfold, Carbon Dating Lead Artist
Tania Leimbach, Carbon Dating Writer

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A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Grasslands are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.

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About Us

Carbon_Dating is an experimental artwork designed to seed ‘consensual’ partnerships between Australian native grasses and humans, based upon their shared need to breathe each other’s ‘exhaled’ air.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the many lands on which we live, work and create, including our collaborators on Yirrganydji, Barunggam, Jagera/Yuggera, Turbal, Ugarapul, Jinibara, Kabi Kabi and Kombumerri Country. We acknowledge their ongoing connection and custodianship for Country. We pay our deep respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We recognise First Nations people as the first artists and scientists. Always was, always will be.

The 2024-5 Carbon_Dating exhibition tour is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts QueenslandAssisted by QUT School of Creative Practice, International Art Services (IAS), Native Seeds Pty Ltd, Artfully, and Embodied Media.Between 2019-23 this project was assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.

It was also supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF). The Regional Arts Development Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government: Cairns Regional Council; Western Downs Regional Council; City of Gold Coast Council; Somerset Regional Council; and ArtsCoast as part of Sunshine Coast Council’s RADF program to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

Thanks also to QUT (School of Creative Practice, QUT Office of eResearch and Samford Ecological Research Facility). NorthSite Contemporary Arts, Cairns; Dogwood Crossing Gallery, Miles; HOTA, Gold Coast; The Condensery, Toogooloowah; Caloundra Regional Gallery, Caloundra; Native Seeds Pty Ltd and ReBul Packaging.

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Made By Keith Armstrong