This painting lifts the status of this unpopular bird to one of majesty, usually reserved for cranes in Oriental art.

Unwelcome and commonly referred to as ‘Bin Chickens’ and ‘Trash Turkeys’; 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.

The title of this work represents the Ibis’ perspective on modern life rather than ours, and is from the Blur album of the same name.

Sometimes I look at our Ibis feeding in the Cook’s River or the wetlands at Sydney Park, and with the help of the Pine 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 painting has been professionally framed in a white box frame with Bainbridge Mount and glass and is ready to hang.