Wise Parliament. Belconnen Arts Centre, 2023

Wise Parliament is an exhibition of the world’s owl species in drawings. It continues my exploration of peoples’ relationship with nature, and the impacts of human-induced environmental damage.

Owls have captured the human imagination. Their silent flight, nocturnal habits and night vision play in our psyches, creating myths and symbols of wisdom, death and renewal, intuitive vision and transformation amongst others.

In the gallery we are held in the owls’ gaze, their forward-facing eyes staring back at the viewer. Nature staring back at humankind – are they questioning our decisions that put the natural world at risk? Owls inhabit every continent except Antarctica, meaning their long-term survival is critical to every country on earth. Some are threatened, vulnerable and extinct particularly due to habitat loss and secondary poisoning from rodent control. In Australia all owl species are listed as ‘not in danger’, but at the state level many are threatened.

Owls’ collective noun, parliament, symbolically decentres human governance that continues to put the natural world at risk. Symbolically wisdom is meaningful as this is what humans need to address climate change and other ecological crises.

All of the drawings are made with ink, pen and pinpricks on paper

Barn owl

Tawny bellied screech owl. Photo inspiration: Glenn Bartley

Mottled owl

Costa Rican pygmy owl.

Andaman scops owl. Phot inspiration: Sarwan Deep Singh

Sri Lanka bay owl. Photo inspiration: Rajneesh Suvnarna

Greater sooty owl. Photo inspiration: Richard Jackson

West Solomons boobook. Photo inspiration: Lars Peterssen