Ian Hamilton

In 1978 Ian was awarded an Arts SA grant to “study the art of the golden bowerbird”. Over a two-month period in the summer of 1978-79 he completed the first of several field studies in world heritage rain forests. He has been making art based on those field trips ever since.

Ian disputes the notion that bower building and decorating is only about attracting females. He sees this as too simplistic and, at best, just part of the story. He understands that bower-building has evolved over a long time and continues to do so. He points out that there is at least as much interest in a particular bower from other males as there is from females. The male bowerbirds can take seven to nine years to learn, to develop necessary skills and establish their own bowers. In the case of golden bowerbirds, these are more correctly called towers, which vary enormously in size, shape and complexity. Ian proposes that the male bowerbirds become fixated in their work and that while attracting females might be a primary instinct (as it is with human males) it is likely that other urge takes over (as they do with human males).

Ian’s art also elaborates on basic urges, as in this particular exhibition of sketches and memories of bowers he saw in the forest. This process of elaboration can be seen in the large hangings. These started as field sketches and then morphed into small sculptures. These were photographed and printed onto canvas, then shown at various galleries, including St Sebastian (Spain), Townsville, Murray Bridge and Prospect. Photographing the sculptures, in preparation for the printing of large images, allowed me further insight into Ian’s thinking. For this exhibition the printed canvasses have been painted over with acrylic paint, in the process giving them a new vitality.

Ian is not a bird illustrator, nor an ornithologist. He is an artist responding to one small but intriguing part of the natural world. Bowers might be the primary focus for this exploration, but only because, in their complexity, evolution and uniqueness, for Ian they raise questions about creativity and shine a light on our own place in the world.

- Leo Davis, June 2021