As One, They Saw

Phil Hayes

For years, I’ve been drawn to the thylacine, not just as a lost species, but as a lingering presence in our landscape and imagination. This work, As One, They Saw, is my attempt to bring together eight separate post-extinction sightings into one form, one body, one animal. Each panel represents a different witness account—fragmented, often doubted, yet persistent. None of them alone can prove the thylacine still exists, but together, they begin to feel whole. I lived and worked in Tasmania for years, and I know how strong the pull of this creature is. This piece is as much about the thylacine as it is about us and what we choose to remember, what we refuse to forget, and what we still hope might be true.

Artist
Phil Hayes
Year
2025
Height
82 cm
Width
123 cm
Medium
Octaptych Oil on Canvas