flight (2024/25)

Flight bears witness to the impact of colonialism on Australia’s landscape, in particular our local bird community. Based on an 1880s wallpaper salvaged from Rouse Hill Estate, the work re-presents the original historic pattern in white-washed lantana roots harvested from Gadigal and Gayamaygal Lands. The lantana frames appropriated colonial depictions of New South Wales birds; all of which are now considered threatened. Early colonists often installed wallpaper decorated with wildflowers from their homeland. They were following a European tradition dating back to Roman frescoes, of bringing the outer landscape inside. But in Australia, this seemingly harmless act represented an inherent turning away from the Indigenous. By re- imagining a wallpaper that incorporates the Indigenous within the colonial, this artwork both celebrates our native inheritance and testifies to the ongoing impact of colonialism on it. These luscious birds - often depicted with humour and affection by early colonists - are vulnerable but still surviving.
​
Names and status of birds sourced from NSW Environment’s Threatened Biodiversity List
*Vulnerable - V
*Endangered-E
*Critically Endangered - CE

​Boronia Granitica(E)
Sunshine Wattle (E)
Fritillary Butterfly (E)
Emerald Dragonfly (E)
Pink Cockatoo (V)
Fairy Penguin (V)
Orange -bellied Parrot (CE)
Swift Parrot (CE)
Sacred Kingfisher (V)
White-bellied Sea Eagle (V)
Eastern Coastal Free-tailed Bat (V)
Turquoise Parrot (V)
Australian Bustard (E)
Owlet Nightjar (Extinct)
Flame Robin (V)
The Golden Whistler (V)
Shy Albatross (V)
Gibson’s Albatross (V)
Superb Pigeon (V)
Black jointed Galliinule (V)
Giant Southern Petrel (E)
Australian Bustard (E)
Owlet Nightjar (Extinct)
Flame Robin (V)
The Golden Whistler (V)
Shy Albatross (V)
Gibson’s Albatross (V)
Superb Pigeon (V)
Black jointed Galliinule (V)
Giant Southern Petrel (E)
Hooded Tern (CE) Australasian Bittern (V)
Rufous Shrub Bird (E)
Helmeted Honey-eater (CE)

Boronia Granitica(E)
Sunshine Wattle (E)
Gibralta Waratah (E)
Giant Dragonfly (E)
Curlew Sandpiper( E)
Masked Owl (V)
Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (CE)
Sacred Kingfisher
Brolga (V)
Fritillary Butterfly (E)
Gouldian finch (E)
Red Goshawk (E)
Ground Parrot (E)
Red tailed Black cockatoo (V)
Sacred Kingfisher
Little Penguin (V)
Swallow Dicaeum (V)
​Princess Parrot (V)
Square Tailed Kite (V)
Flame Breasted Robin (V)
Magpie Goose (V)
Bogong Moth (E)
Swallow Dicaeum (V)
Red necked Godwit (V)
Black winged Petrel (V) Ground Parrot (CE)
Little Eagle (V)
Little Bent-winged Bat (V)
Wandering Albatross (V)
Chestnut Breasted Duck (CE)

Boronia Granitica (E)
Sunshine Wattle (E)
Banksia Vincencia (E)
Turquoise Parrot (V)
Black and white Goose (V)
Monarch Butterfly (E)
Swift Parrot (CE)
Squatter Pigeon (CE)
Night Parrot (CE)
Sacred Kingfisher
Superb Parrot (V)
Grey Falcon (V)
Pink Cockatoo (V)
Orange- bellied Parrot (E)
Curlew Sandpiper (E)
Barred Cuckoo Shrike (V)
White bellied Storm Petrel (V)
Giant Dragonfly (E)
Black winged petrel (V)
Red Goshawk(E)
Stone Curlew (E)
Wattle Goat Moth (E)
Red Goshawk (E)
Spotted Ground Thrush (CE)
Hooded Tern or Plover (CE)
​Bogong Moth (E)

Boronia Granitica (E)
Sunshine Wattle (E)
Spotted Ground Thrush (E)
Norfolk Island Petrel (V)
Spotted Harrier (V)
Norfolk Island Tasman Starling (Extinct) New Holland crimson bellied gull
Black Browed Albatross (V)
TheLittleEagle (V)
Fritillary Butterfly (E)
Magpie Goose (V)
Collared Kingfisher (V)
New Holland Snipe (V)
Diamond Firetail (V)
Rose-crowned Fruit Dove (V)
Powerful Owl (V)
Plains Wanderer (CE)
Magpie Goose (V)
Sheath-tailed bat (V)
Golden Whistler (V)
Flame Breasted Robin (V)
Barking Owl (V)
Emperor Gum Moth (V)
Australasian Bittern (V)
Spotted Ground Thrush (E)
Curlew Sandpiper (E)

Boronia Granitica (E)
​Sunshine Wattle (E)
Southern Emu Wren (E)
Pied Grallina (E)
Red Lored Whistler (CE)
Monarch Butterfly (E)
Glossy Back Cockatoo (E)
Gang Gang Cockatoo (CE)
Boobook (V)
Sugar Glider
Wedge Tailed Eagle(E)
Bogong Moth(E)
Regent Honeyeater (CE)
Gilbert’s Whistler (V)
Lord Howe Island Hen (E)
Pied Grallina (Crallina Australis) (V)
Red Lored Whistler (CE)
Thick-billed Grass wren (Extinct)
Masked Owl (V)
Black-browed Albatross (V)
Yellow faced Honeyeater (V)
Australasian Bittern (E)
Rust-coloured Bronzewing (E)
​Bar-tailed Godwit (V)
The Turquoise Parrot (V)
The Golden Whistler (V)
Barking Ow (V)
Sacred Kingfisher

Boronia Granitica (E)
Sunshine Wattle (E)
Gymea Lily (V in the wild)
Glossy Black Cockatoo (V)
Grey Falcon (V)
Gang Gang Cockatoo (E)
Red Knot (E)
Albert’s Lyre Bird (V)
White breasted Sea Eagle (V)
Australian Bustard (E)
Boobook Owl (V)
Red tailed Black Cockatoo (CE)
Coxen’s Parrot (CE)
Shy Albatross (V)
Freckled Duck (V)
Yellow bellied Glider (V)
Ground Parrot (CE)
Flame Breasted Robin (V)
Gilbert's Whistler (V)
Helmeted Honey-eater (CE)
Grey Falcon (V)
White-throated Grass Wren (E)
​Giant Southern Petrel (E)
Black necked Stork (E)

Flight at Corban & Blair window gallery in February 2025

click image for more

Corban & Blair exhibition