Britta Stenmanns
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
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​Britta Stenmanns lives in the Southern Highlands, New South Wales. She studied graphic-design in Duesseldorf, woodcarving in Bavaria and painting at the School of Fine Arts in Bremen. Stenmanns’ artistic practice has taken her to London, Madrid, Deya /Spain and Mexico City where she completed postgraduate studies in printmaking and painting at the Academia San Carlos. Stenmanns has held eight solo exhibitions and participated in numerous group exhibitions in Germany, Spain, Mexico, France, Poland, Belgium and Australia. Her work is represented in various private collections in Spain (George Sheridan Collection and La Resedencia), Poland (City of Glogow), Germany (City of Bremen), Australia (ANU) vario exchange and USA.
She has taken part in Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, Sydney and won First Prize in the “Outside Sculpture Prize” competition at the BDAS, Bowral, judged by Susanne Archer.
ARTIST'S REASON FOR PARTICIPATING
​It always has upset me and my family to see what we put these large and gentle apes through, maybe even more though as they are more closely related to us than any other being ( we are sharing 97% of the same DNA.) Being a gardening enthusiast myself it fascinates me how they are "gardeners" of the forest and how they play a vital role in seed dispersal in their habitats. They can’t fend for themselves in relation to deforestation and logging. It is believed up to 1,000 orangutans are killed every year, either for the pet trade, for consumption or as agricultural pests. I am glad I can do something to help raise money to support their survival.
OSCARINA
Oscarina, a sweet and resilient female orangutan, was rescued in July 2011 by International Animal Rescue (IAR) from Sungai Duri, where she had been kept illegally as a pet. Initially believed to be a male named “Oscar,” she was quickly renamed once the vet team realized the mistake.
Oscarina was in poor health upon arrival—suffering from a severe skin infection, high fever, and malnutrition due to a diet of fried food, noodles, meat, and sweet tea. Her hair was falling out, and she was visibly uncomfortable, scratching constantly from the infection. Under the expert care of IAR’s medical team, she received immediate treatment, including antibiotics and proper nutrition. Gradually, her red hair grew back, and her condition improved dramatically.
Once strong enough, Oscarina entered forest school where she learned essential survival skills—climbing, foraging, and nest-building. She made many friends, including her lifelong companion, Monti, who took her under his wing from day one. The two remained close throughout their rehabilitation journey.
Oscarina spent several years on pre-release islands refining her forest skills.
In November 2020, after pandemic-related delays, Oscarina was successfully released into Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park alongside four other rehabilitated orangutans. She now lives wild and free in the forest, closely monitored by IAR’s post-release team to ensure her transition is going well.
Oscarina’s journey from a cage to the canopy is a powerful symbol of hope and the long-term dedication needed to return these magnificent beings to their rightful home.
