Starting in 2019 and continuing into early this year, a series of wildfires across Australia, particularly in New South Wales, caused unprecedented damage, destroying over 10 million hectares of forest, turning once lush woodlands into barren land. The wildfire disaster quickly became a major concern for people worldwide, with everyone worried about the fires and the consequences they brought to wildlife and plant life.
In order to contribute to relief efforts and the restoration of the forests and victims affected by the fires, a photographer named Jason De Freitas created a virtual exhibition showcasing images of the rebirth of flora and fauna after the devastating wildfires within the game Minecraft. Jason De Freitas shared a video of this virtual exhibition on Reddit, and it immediately caught the attention of the online community, sponsors, and Minecraft gamers.
Specifically, the virtual exhibition was built in a Minecraft server, open to anyone who wants to view it. The virtual gallery includes a series of photographs he took of the rebirth of flora and fauna after the horrific wildfire disaster, captured by Jason De Freitas in the Kodak Aerochrome style (a very expensive infrared camera photography style). The photo collection offers viewers a glimpse of the resilience of plant species after the wildfire disaster with distinctive bright red colors. The virtual exhibition also showcases works by famous photographers such as Robert Walwyn and Kristelle De Freitas.
Photographer Jason De Freitas explained in a comment below the Reddit post that the motivation for the project was his own awareness of those still affected by the wildfire disaster in Australia. Over 3,500 people lost their homes, many of whom are still living homeless in parks. Therefore, displaying the photographs in a virtual art gallery aims to raise funds for relief and recovery efforts for the wildfire victims while complying with the strict social distancing regulations imposed by the government during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The collection is also displayed on the personal website of photographer Jason De Freitas, and the proceeds will be donated to relief efforts, particularly to the South Coast Donation Logistics Team – a charity organization working with the Australian government to assist those affected by the wildfires.