Inke Falkner: Round and Round

'I regularly visit an ant mound on my dog walks to observe how it continuously transforms... Mosses and lichens have colonised; Microhabitats have emerged, fostering communities of different organisms. Round and Round is a snapshot of that mound, a natural ecosystem in constant flux and succession, shaped by the environment as much as chance.'

Dr Inke Falkner is a biologist-turned-artist living near Braidwood, NSW. Fascinated by the interconnectedness of the natural world, she focuses on small, often overlooked details such as mosses, lichens and native wildflowers, translating them into artworks using the traditional technique of straw marquetry.

Believed to have originated in Asia and introduced to Europe in the 17th century, straw marquetry involves dyeing straw in small batches before each piece is split, flattened and cut by hand. Traditionally used as a domestic-scale decorative alternative to wood marquetry, the technique is reimagined here on a monumental scale.

In this contemporary sculptural work, the reflective, geometric qualities of dyed straw contrast with the intricate natural scene it depicts. Yet the slow, meticulous process of straw marquetry mirrors the gradual patterns and rhythms of ecological growth and change.

Falkner was invited to create this major new work for CMAG on the Square following her success in the Lanyon Art Prize 2025, where she received second prize for Nurturing Lanyon.