Hornbill I

This painting is based on one of two hornbill sculptures I have in my backyard that the previous owners of our house left.

It seemed impossible to think of them living anywhere but the wild habitat that is our garden, and I love that we both agreed that, despite not being real, the garden was their home and they could stay.

I often paint objects imbued with a sense of memory, in this case across multiple people who have been the custodians of these hornbills. I’ve painted these sculptures to show how people can impress life like qualities onto objects, in this case the idea they had a place of belonging, and how that creates attachment and sentiment.

I particularly like the hornbills because they also push the boundaries of still life, both by being outdoors rather than traditional indoor settings, and through their strong personas, blurring the line of inanimate object and real animal.

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Acrylic on canvas
101 x 76cm