TWEED Heads South artist Barry Henderson wants to make a dead-set statement on the environment with his latest artwork.

The 68-year-old says he will “challenge and cause controversy” with his entry into the Caldera Artfest, a coffin carrying cut-outs of rare or threatened animals in the Tweed region.

The artwork, titled Our dear departed friends, will debut at opening night of the Artfest at the Murwil- lumbah Civic Centre next Friday.

“I hope it turns some heads,” Mr Henderson said.

“I want it to raise awareness of the number of animals that are in threat because of development in the area.”

The installation features cut-outs of at-risk animals including the red goshawk and the fig parrot.

Mr Henderson said the project took him five months from concept to creation.

“I think we have the best collection of Australian wildlife illustrators living on the Tweed. Competition is going to be tough so I had to do something that would capture attention,” he said.

Every artwork at the show will depict some aspect of the flora, fauna, landscape and environmental sustainability of the Mt Warning Wollumbin Caldera.

Works to feature in the festival cover a range of mediums from traditional oil paintings to contemporary sculptures.

Artfest opens at the Murwillumbah Civic Centre at 5pm next Friday when the winners of the annual Max Boyd Art Prize and the Tyalgum Festival Prize will be announced.

The exhibition will run from 9am to 5pm each day until Monday, October 4. Entry is free.