Thirteen-year-old Griffin awarded ‘most unusual artwork’

Published on 22 April 2024

Thirteen-year-old Griffin Barber's fascination with endangered species has led him on a remarkable journey of creativity and conservation awareness – and a first-place art award.

While researching online, Griffin stumbled upon the captivating pink slug of Mount Kaputar, sparking an inspiration that would culminate in his award-winning artwork, "Hug the Slug."

Griffin’s artwork Hug the Slug was entered in the Australian Conservation Foundation’s 2023 Wild at Art: Threatened Species Art Competition with nearly 6,800 other artworks. His piece stood out for its creative representation of the endangered pink slug and its significance in conservation efforts.

It saw him win first prize in the Most Unusual Artwork Category of 2023.

In his entry for the competition, Griffin discussed why he choose the pink slug for his piece.

“I have chosen this animal because it is big and cute. It is also a slug, and most people think ‘ew’ or ‘yuck’ when they think of slugs, but I thought that it was the perfect thing to make an artwork on.

“It is an endangered species that lives on an extinct volcano in North-West NSW. The volcano is called Mount Kaputar which has lots of other endangered species.

“The slug is a part of a unique group of unusual animals known as the Mount Kaputar Land Snail and Slug Threatened Ecological Community.

“This slug is around 30cm big! But in my artwork, I have made a few smaller ones.

“If you look closely at the artwork, you will see a secret word or symbol. I have made my artwork out of Fimo Clay and glued it onto a wooden board. It also has a frame around it.”

Griffin's dedication to conservation extends beyond his artwork.

Recently, accompanied by his mother Tracey, he ventured to Narrabri’s Mount Kaputar in search of the elusive slug.

While the slugs remained hidden on their excursion, Griffin had the opportunity to have a photo with the giant pink slug sculpture on the Art Trail in Boggabri.

Griffin promised he will be back to search for the Mount Kaputar pink slug again. 

Griffin's artistic journey not only celebrates the beauty of nature but also raises awareness about the importance of protecting endangered species and their habitats.

The Australian Conservation Foundation’s Wild at Art is Australia's biggest wildlife art competition for kids. 

It's an opportunity for children unleash their artistic creativity while learning about Australia's threatened animals and plants – and the threats facing them. 

Wild At Art 2024 will run from 17 June to 12 August. 

For more information visit www.acf.org.au/wild-at-art-competition