The exhibition features more than 100 artworks by some of Australia’s finest artists, including Lucy Culliton, Chris O’Doherty (Reg Mombassa), Euan Macleod, Louise Kerr, Adrienne Richards, Leo Robba with Gundungurra artist Kelsie King.

The Painted River Project is an art, science and cultural initiative that invites community members to share knowledge and build an understanding of how we live with the natural world. The project, now in its fourth year, aims to nurture transformative thinking and collective action around one of Australia’s most contested topics – water.

Co-curated by Dr Leo Robba and Margaret Hancock of Western Sydney University, The Painted River Project Blue Mountains explores the swamps of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains Area, in particular, the Leura Swamp and Garguree, The Gully, and Katoomba.

These swamps play a vital part in maintaining the water flows in the creeks and waterfalls in the Blue Mountains, by storing water and slowly releasing it over time.

The swamps also act as filters, purifying water prior to the release into creeks, whilst also providing vital habitat for threatened plant, insect, and animal species.

The Painted River Project is a planetary health initiative devised by Dr Leo Robba from Western Sydney University School of Humanities and Communication Arts and Professor Tony Capon from Monash University in partnership with Associate Professor Ian Wright from Western Sydney University School of Science. Rare Upland Swamps is presented in partnership with the University of Western Sydney, Monash University and Newcastle University.