A collective of researchers and artists is putting together a gallery show on Bats and Belonging in early 2026 at Untether Gallery in Geelong In preparation for the exhibition, they invited artists who intend to submit a piece for the exhibition on a fieldtrip to the flying-fox camp in Eastern Park, Geelong. The experience was aimed to give people (bats lovers, people who know nothing about bats, and everything in between) an opportunity to come observe the lives of flying-foxes in a safe and educational environment.
The field trip started with a walking meditation from the carpark to the roost, guided by Dr. Belinda Christie. There was a slight drizzle, but that did not stop us. It only added to the sounds we could tune into as we walked, including the grind of gravel under our feet or the soft tread on grass, cockatoos’ screeches and eventually the bats’ squabbly sounds. While the meditation walk took place, vet nurse and bat rescuer Layla Berry was still busy attending to an orphaned pup in the roost, and expertly retrieved him with a 18m pole.
With a good vision on the flying-fox camp, the group settled down on the blankets with a cup of tea and snacks, and binoculars to watch the bats from a distance. Dr. Kaori Yokochi started with a talk on bat ecology. Layla Berry followed with her presentation on the flying-fox camp, the local threats and the work that Bats of Geelong does for the flying-foxes.
Artist and Honours student Nyssa Braid guided us through an artistic practice, an original drawing exercise that allowed us to observe and listen more closely to the flying-foxes in their camp. I spoke last on the history of human-flying-fox relationships in Australia and how we might care for the flying-foxes going forward. I gave a few examples, but I also prompted the artists to consider three questions. How have the bats, or something they learned about them today, impacted them? What needs do they observe among the flying-foxes? And how do they feel compelled to act based on that?
It was a lovely gathering, and thanks to the organisers for allowing me to be part of it! I am looking forward to seeing the Bats and Belonging show soon!
