The Mark, Jenny Mulcahy

In 1875 Magnetic Island was set aside as a place of quarantine. Tents were set up at Picnic Bay with the afflicted passengers being cared for by the Butler family who had recently established a pineapple farm in the area. In 1865 Cleveland Bay was declared a port of entry and clearance for ships arriving in Australia. As it was the first or second point of call for shipping on the Asia/Pacific route it was quickly identified as a place where shipboard disease such as Cholera and the Bubonic plague could be contained. In 1875 Magnetic Island was set aside as a place of quarantine. Tents were set up at Picnic Bay with the afflicted passengers being cared for by the Butler family who had recently established a pineapple farm in the area. These were later replaced by huts at either end of the Bay. Those who died whilst in quarantine at Picnic Bay were buried at the eastern end of the Bay. 

In 1884 a proper Quarantine Station was established at West Point in response to the provisions of the Queensland Health Act and as a result of community concern about the standard of accommodation for people quarantined on the Island. A graveyard was established at West Point for those that died whilst in quarantine there.

Commissioned for PUNQ 2021 at the height of COVID-19 The Mark references pandemics that have impacted on civilisation throughout the ages and how we, as communities have responded to them.

Initially situated in Picnic Bay amongst a grove of trees only metres from where the first quarantine tents were placed and the first graves dug, The Mark has now found a permanent home on Claude’s block (Magnetic Island Nature Care’s home base) situated at Bolger Bay, a short distance to the site of the West Point Quarantine Station.

By linking past pandemics with the recent COVID-19 pandemic The Mark encourages audiences to reflect about time, place and our moment in history whilst referencing a variety of ‘marks’ that have been used throughout history to identify those infected with disease, for example the Bubonic plague saw black or red crosses placed on doors, the eight-pointed green cross known as the St Lazarus Cross for Leprosy, and more recently the Grim Reaper for Aids or the microbe symbol for COVID-19.

A committed environmentalist, Mulcahy is passionate about the land on which she lives, her work very much influenced by the amazingly diverse landscapes of north Queensland; the colours, textures and natural rugged formations. She says she is constantly in awe of this ancient land, a land we are so privileged to live upon. A land so vast that many think its resources infinite; and the unceasingly brave battle by those who know they are not.

Since opening her studio on Magnetic Island in 1984 Mulcahy’s work has continued to evolve. Initially working with ceramics, she now works with a variety of media including ceramic, glass, stone, steel, found objects and plant materials.

Mulcahy has exhibited regularly and widely with her work held in numerous public and private collections. She has a PhD in Creative Arts, has been the recipient of numerous awards and grants, participated in international residencies and completed a number of public art works.

Her most recent solo exhibition (2020) entitled Liminal Space explored issues of extinction and de-extinction while questioning those political decisions that place our environment in jeopardy. Previous bodies of work have addressed issues surrounding the mining of uranium, the plight of refugees and the commonality of our human relationship with place. Mulcahy’s current work is focused on the genocide in Gaza.