Winter Rosella Painting

‘Winter Rosella’ began as a deceased rosella placed on canvas in the Woollamia swamp to collect evidence of an environment where bacteria, insects and mould flourish. The resulting ‘shroud’ or decomposition print was then collected, placed in vinegar and then dried and stretched onto a wooden frame. The post-decomposition body of the rosella is a flourish of brightly coloured feathers that are translated onto the stained surface in rich oils and bitumen. A nest motif encases the mould-stained canvas in a flourish of twigs woven together by a bird. My method of image creation is unique, and was developed as new research in arts practice at the ANU during my doctoral candidature.