Artist: Reverend Doctor Melvyn John Macarthur (2017)

Exhibition Overview:

Human life is inherently complex and cannot be fully understood through a single discipline. This exhibition brings together photographs, artifacts, and works by Reverend Doctor Melvyn John Macarthur, a postgraduate student at Western Sydney University. His 2017 PhD thesis, Of Cancer and Other Things: Conversations with the Royal Philosopher on Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela (available for reading in this room), explores human life through dialogue with Qoheleth, the author of the book of Ecclesiastes.

About Reverend Doctor Macarthur:

Reverend Doctor Macarthur's life is influenced by a diverse range of experiences:

• Professional Life: Social work, particularly in child protection.
• Vocational Life: Ordained ministry and pilgrimage.
• Academic Pursuits: Over four decades as a student and researcher in various fields.
• Wilderness Experience: Significant periods spent in wilderness areas.
• Health Journey: Living with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma for the past ten years.

Artist's Statement:

"Wilderness has been essential to my well-being. It provides a perspective that counters the ego-centric focus prevalent in wider society. In my vocation, I often conduct Communion services on mountaintops, particularly Mount Solitary in the Blue Mountains World Heritage wilderness areas near my home. I ask those who accompany me to imagine viewing Mount Solitary through powerful binoculars from a nearby mountain. They often describe the people on Mount Solitary as insignificant specks in the vast wilderness. This perspective challenges the elevated view of the self that is common in Western society. For me, wilderness and mountains are the antidote to the 'me' society and help me maintain a sense of my place in the world."

Featured Works:

• Reverend Doctor Macarthur at Cruz de Ferros: On El Camino de Santiago between Manjarín and Foncebadón, Spain, as part of his doctoral pilgrimage.
• Lake Windemere, Tasmania: Overland Track expedition, part of Bidwill High School’s Broadening Horizons program, providing young people with opportunities to explore and build resilience.
• Bidwill High School Students: Day 6 of the Overland Track, Tasmania, with Gould's Plateau and Mt. Olympus in the background (Broadening Horizons).
• Reverend Doctor Macarthur at New Pelion Hut: End of day 3 on the Overland Track, Tasmania (Broadening Horizons project).
• A pair of boots worn by Reverend Doctor Macarthur on all the journeys.