Unwelcome and commonly referred to as ‘Bin Chickens’; the Sacred White Ibis is a native bird found in urban areas throughout Australia. They were rare in our cities 30 years ago, but the loss of their natural habitat has forced them into populated areas to scavenge on human rubbish.
This painting lifts the status of these unpopular birds’ to one of majesty, usually reserved for cranes in oriental art.
Sometimes I look at our Ibis feeding in the Cook’s River or the wetlands at Sydney Park, and with the help of the Weeping Bottlebrush trees and water, they remind me of an oriental scene.
The question is: Can we love them more if they are re-packaged and presented to us in a natural environment like the scene in this painting? And rather than ‘hating on our displaced wildlife’, shouldn’t we be more accountable for the destruction of the environment?
This is the second painting in a series of 'Bin Chicken' works I am currently producing. The first painting was awarded first prize in the local artist category of the Greenway Art Prize in November 2017.
The pared back colour palette of blues and greys combined with the Neon orange bird tag on the leg of the bird gives this piece a contemporary edge, and it's purpose is to jolt the viewer out of the beauty of the oriental scene and remind us of the true urban context of the subject matter. This large work would make a fantastic statement on your wall and features many hours of intricate detail. Please see the extra photos for a close look at the detail of the painting.