Have you seen this bird?

4 July 202414 July 2024 by Theo

During the 2023-24 summer, the Ashburton River, near the Ashburton Bridge was the home to a colony of endangered black-billed gulls (tarāpuka).

On Christmas Day 2023, I captured several photographs of these birds. It was a challenge to get a good shot. The nesting area was fenced off to protect the birds and they were very energetic.

Have you seen this bird?, photograph mounted on reclaimed wooden post, approx 150 x 150 x 400 mm.

I’ve mounted two prints of the photograph on the sides of a piece of reclaimed post to give the impression of a lost pet notice.

I have made other works based on this photograph. A collection of lino-cut prints, “Have you seen these birds?” and a stone carving “Have you seen this bird too?”.

This work is being exhibited in the Ashburton Society of Arts 60th Annual Exhibition at the Ashburton Art Gallery from 1-26 July 2024.

Sofa Safari

2 January 20202 January 2020 by Theo

Exploring Furniture in the Wild

Over the last 18 months, as I walk around the neighborhood, I often see the furniture that has been abandoned or has escaped domestic confines and is now residing on the streets or in the fields.

In fact, all over Turkey, I see wild furniture. I’m searching for the most elusive varieties of furniture – the avian and the aquatic. Maybe one day I will be lucky enough to see some furniture flying or swimming or even just resting beside a waterway or in a tree or on a rooftop.

Join me on a Sofa Safari

View the whole series on Flickr

Street couch — Explore my series of photos of Wild Furniture sightings on Flickr

Locked in Love

4 April 201812 August 2019 by Theo

I took this photo at the Citadella in Budapest last week. It has beautiful views of the Danube and the city.

Like on the bridges in Paris, Budapest and other romantic cities, lovers have their names written on a lock, fasten the lock to the structure and throw away the key to symbolize their everlasting love for each other.

Notice how many of these locks are hanging off another. Why would you lock yourselves to another couple’s relationship?

Nearby was a lock engraved with Joanne and David. Close to that was another lock with a later date engraved with David and someone else. For Joanne’s sake, I hope it is not the same David.

Are your relationships locked onto something solid?

Waiting for creation

3 February 201512 February 2020 by Theo

I occasionally try to imagine what it would have been like before everything. Prior to creation, there was no time, no space, no matter. No light. No dark. No past. But all of the future. It is hard to get my head around it. Even harder to express in a work of art.