Kokako
Mixed Media, Ready to hang
61cm (H) x 45.7cm (W) x4cm (D)
A$2900
Continuing my exploration of endangered species, this painting features the North Island Kōkako, another endangered bird of New Zealand. It captivates with its haunting, flute-like song and striking blue wattles. My painting seeks to capture its ethereal presence as it fades from our lives. It whispers stories of survival and fragility as the Kōkako is portrayed here, amongst the Krystal Spiral energy - a symbol of returning home to the universal point of creation.
The Kōkako, emerges as a poignant reminder of nature's treasures and our role as guardians. Through intricate patterns inspired by Māori culture, the painting intertwines ancestral connections with contemporary environmental themes. This piece not only celebrates the Kōkako's legacy but also calls for awareness and action towards conservation efforts in New Zealand's rich biodiversity.
NZ has many wonderful song birds and the Kōkako is no exception. Kokako pairs engage in complex antiphonic duets, where one bird begins a phrase and the other completes it after a pause.
When breeding, pairs will often sing together in a bell-like duet for up to an hour in the early morning, among the longest of any bird species.
The Maori people call the kokako's song "Te Koha Waiata," meaning "the gift song," highlighting its cultural importance. Some say their song has a haunting, spiritual quality to it.
Through this work, I aim to raise awareness of the Kōkako’s endangered status, inspiring a connection to nature and a call to protect the delicate balance that sustains these remarkable birds.
The first stages of the painting
If you study this work a little more closely, you will find, as occurs in many of my paintings, some underlying, almost hidden images, that further tell the story. There is a persons head, symbolizing the role man has had to play in the demise of this bird.
And behind it you can see part of a mountainous landscape - a symbolic representation of the bird's habitat.
As you can see, this painting would look striking in many different settings.
Below is a progress shot of the colours I mixed and a drawing used to work out the pattern I planned to put on the birds. I was originally going to have the front bird quite patterned, but decided to go for a more subtle approach in the end.
