Histories & Habitats
Fenja T. Ringl
Nook Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre
Opening: 6pm Friday 16 October 2026
Exhibition: 16 October – 29 November 2026
Histories & Habitats presents hand-printed works on paper and ceramics that explore the intricate forms of Australia’s flora and fauna, the landscapes they inhabit, and the environmental ‘archives’ — layers of memory and material — that shape our understanding of past and present.
The exhibition marks the culmination of five years of experimental printmaking following a scientific career in archaeology and palaeo-ecology. Through an artistic lens, Fenja revisits her earlier environmental research and draws upon new encounters with nature’s beauty and the fragility of ecosystems.
Through detailed subject studies, a ‘deep time’ lens, and through creative interpretation, the exhibition’s central themes are distilled in its title: hearths evoke the spaces we dwell in and the activities of daily life; hills reference the mountain landscapes of our local region; and habitat speaks to the complexity, transience and interconnectedness of ecosystems.
About the Artist
Dr Fenja T. Ringl is a printmaker whose practice explores nature’s intricate patterns, textures, and layered histories. She works across a range of printmaking techniques, often integrating them with ceramic processes to produce distinctive clay-based artworks. Drawing on years of travel and professional experience as an archaeologist, Fenja transitioned from hobbyist to full-time printmaker in 2020. Her scientific background and fascination with the deep-time narratives of landscapes frequently inform the motifs and thematic undercurrents of her work.