Rachel Griffiths 'deeply touched' by devastation discovered while filming new series

Watching a man clean the remains of a devastating flood from his home was a solemn moment for actor and producer Rachel Griffiths.

Key points:

• Griffiths presents a new ABC art series called Great Southern Landscapes
• The first episode takes it to the Hawkesbury River where residents carry out their third flood cleanup in 12 months
• The series will premiere on ABC at 8 p.m. on August 9

He was traveling across Australia to shoot earlier this year when a painting by Arthur Streeton pulled him into the Hawkesbury River in New South Wales.

Griffiths met with communities recovering from their third flood in 12 months.

“Standing with a pressured man washing his house for the third time and feeling so connected to a place he didn’t believe he had the ability to face or accept nature’s wrath — it was one of our most moving times,” Griffiths said. .

He never imagined that the local Rohan Smith he interviewed would do his fourth cleanup just a few weeks later.

Griffiths comes with a strong appreciation for the harsh realities of the Australian landscape.

Life after lockdown

Presenting the new ABC art series Great Southern Landscapes, he has dived into some of Australia’s most iconic landscape paintings and hopes the prime-time series will inspire a wanderlust for our own backyard.

Darug lady Erin Wilkins takes Griffiths down the Hawkesbury River to share her history.(ABC: The Great Southern Landscape)

The Melbourne-based actor and producer came out of the pandemic lockdown hungry to explore the beauty of nature and he did so through the eyes of some of our greatest artists.

As an art lover, Griffiths was not disappointed.

“It’s been amazing flying across such a vast country after the borders opened and I think what I really like is how people outside Melbourne have experienced the last few years,” Griffiths said.

Six episodes capture the devastation of recent floods, the cultural significance of the landscape and the painful history it has played out.

Lake Eyre in South Australia, Exmouth and Cottesloe Beach in Western Australia, and Warrnambool in Victoria are some of the backdrops to feature in the 30-minute episodes filmed from February to July.

Griffiths appreciates the time he spends exploring the landscape that surrounds Albert Namatjira, a pioneer of contemporary Indigenous Australian art.

Melbourne-based Griffiths was eager to explore Australia when the border opened. (ABC: The Great Southern Landscape)

In one episode, he will take viewers to Namatjira’s house in Hermannsburg in the Northern Territory to hear about how important he is in sharing his knowledge of the country and inspiring other artists to do the same.

It’s in his blood

Griffiths himself grew up inspired by artists from all walks of life.

He had a passion for art through school and trailed his mother Anna Griffiths around the gallery.

“For me it’s part of my everyday language because I’m an artist’s daughter and I’m married to an artist and I’m a performing artist,” Griffiths said.

His love of landscapes is reflected in films that captivate the actor’s heart.

Griffiths described the mystery film Picnic at Hanging Rock as formative for him, fascinated by the idea that landscapes could be places that could eat girls.

“I think what put Australian filmmaking on the map was our cinematographers and directors before our writers,” he said.

“Whether it’s Baz Luhrmann Sydney at Strictly Ballroom to Tracks, I think our filmmakers are always trying to do justice to the incredible scenery we have.”

Griffiths has loved art his entire life. (ABC: The Great Southern Landscape)

He hopes the Great Southern Landscapes will also do justice to our country’s precious natural environment, as the artists featured did.

Griffiths said it would be great to give ABC viewers some inspiration to see what their own backyard has to offer.

“I hope to inspire people when they go to that viewing spot — instead of getting out of a car, getting run over, taking selfies, and falling off a cliff — you’re actually the Google that’s here, whose land are you on and what story is it here? ,” he said.

“And you understand the place in a way that goes a little deeper than just five minutes of Instagram.

“The purpose of a sight should be not just for Instagram posts but to really understand our European history and the 60,000 years before we arrived about these places.”

What’s next?

Aside from the series that will premiere at 8 p.m. on August 9, Griffiths has a few pies yet to be revealed.

He has a string of awards behind him including for his roles in Muriel’s Wedding and Six Feet Under.

The Melbourne actor said he was “put on hold” for a role in a major US show and was waiting to find out more.

He is also a co-creator and executive producer on several shows that he offers internationally to various streamers.

“I always have something to cook,” he said.

#Rachel #Griffiths #deeply #touched #devastation #discovered #filming #series