From the undulating white sand, void of all nutrients or moisture comes the most resilient and robust beings, that not only survive, but flourish with splendour and beauty. Endemic beings of this forgotten land the emu and the banksia have outlasted, outwitted and outplayed the harshness of Australia.

Such complex beings with such refined beauty, nothing is by accident, both colour and texture are crucial to survival. The emu, a bird found nowhere else on earth, unique in so many ways and not just because it cannot fly, but in order to survive in such an arid environment has developed feathers that enable it to tolerate extreme temperatures. Not only do these feathers act as camouflage, but the black tips with soft white under colours, as well as changing textures from furry to grass-like along the shaft, keep the emu insulated as well as cool.

While the banksia on the other hand has its own unique survival quirk. After blossoming the flower will turn into a rock hard nut to shield the paper-like seeds. Two horizontal valves of the follicle will emerge where the seed is kept and will only open once all moisture is removed through temperatures of extreme heat or a bush fire.

Eganu and lake Eganu are found in the Pinjarrega Nature Reserve, located west of the town of Coorow in the state of Western Australia. This nature reserve and region is renowned for its vast wildflower species, including numerous species of banksia, and if you’re lucky and have a keen eye, at the right time of the year you may stumble across an emu sitting on his eggs.

This is the land where I grew up and lived for most of my life, walking through untouched bushland, surrounded by pure nature. For a living my family would pick the varieties of wildflowers, including various banksia species, and sell them to florists around the world.

It was these examples of nature’s timeless perfections where I learnt to appreciate both the beauty of colour and texture, as well as form and structure, purpose and function, all combined into a single body.