Alison Moritsugu

2008
Dimensions variable
Ink on enhanced adhesive synthetic wallpaper

I created this wallpaper informed by the wildfires burning in Southern California during my 2008 residency at Lux Art Institute in Encinitas. This pattern alternates vignettes of native chaparral with scenes of fire-strewn, invasive plants. Previous to human intervention, the fire interval for chaparral was approximately thirty to 150 years. Over the past century, fires have increased dramatically and as a result, the chaparral has been replaced by weedy specimens. As more development extends into areas where fire is part of the natural environment, catastrophic fires will continue on a faster cycle.