Description

A first in a series of paintings with which I departed from painting native birds. I just couldn’t resist exploring the many folk tales around this incredible bird.

Known as the “Ghost Bird” by the Aborigines, the Bower bird is the only creature, other than ourselves, that uses objects as decoration or art.

The Satin Bower bird attempts to seduce its mate by carefully displaying blue items around its bower. Enticing a potential mate, the Bower bird gives these objects as a gift by dropping them at the females feet before performing an elaborate dance in the hope of luring them into their beautifully constructed bower of sticks (like little willow arbours) to begin their mating.

The females are famously choosey and only a combination of the best of dancing, presents and a great bower will lead to a triumph for the male.

The Bower bird has become symbolic of seduction, romance, single parenthood (the male bird does not help to create a nest or raise young), life, art, beauty and pleasure.