Tomorrow’s on fire: an artist responds to bushfires

Tomorrow’s on Fire is an animation created by Darcy Prendergast after seeing the devastation inflicted on wildlife by the NSW bushfires in December.

‘The first few stories on the affected koala populations brought me to tears, and I knew I had to do something,’ Prendergast told ArtsHub. ‘I couldn’t sit by, and at least not try to influence change, however minor.’

‘Embarking on an animated project is never something you take lightly though; it’s the most time-consuming method of expression known to man. So you have to be really pissed off to follow through.’

Tomorrow’s on Fire is dominated by the now-familiar hues of red, orange and black, a backdrop we are becoming all too accustomed to during this season of catastrophic bushfires. A young narrator, representing our next generation, talks about the perils of past mistakes but ultimately asks all of us to band together to take action for the sake of our future.

‘This piece seeks to call for unity, and focus on protecting ourselves, and our future generations,’ Prendergast said, adding that he hopes he can make a difference with his creativity.

‘I hope it challenges. I hope it’s a catalyst for positive change. I hope it sparks action from the politicians who are elected to serve us. So many Australians are angry and rightly so; we deserve better, we deserve hope… and so does our next generation.’

It’s a sentiment echoed by the video’s narrator: