Bower related work

      
Ian Hamilton





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Bower - related work

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heysen
      sculpture 2008

      


      
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      sculptures 2008-on 

      
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two
      dimensional works

      
 

         
        

          

            
Time allows the elaboration
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basic urges and / or
            forms
          
        
      

      
theories

      


      
 field
      notes - journals

Male bowerbirds have no role in nest building, but do construct and decorate their own edifices. 
In the case of the Golden Bowerbird these resemble twin towers joined by a bridge. 
Other bowerbirds build tunnel-like avenues. Ian Hamilton has taken these forms as the basis for the 
exploration and elaboration of three-dimensional forms using sticks found in the suburbs in which he lives.





 
EXOTIC shapes rise sinuously
      from the walls and floor in Ian Hamilton's exhibition Out of
      the Forest explorations. Inspired by the workings and habits
      of the Golden Bowerbird, whose restricted habitat of North Queensland's
      highland rainforests is in decline, the works both speak as a
      metaphor for the struggle of the artist to create order out of
      chaos and the struggle of the bird to survive.



      The 'bower' of the bird is the dominant inspiration for this
      series of works with variously wrought forms created from the
      earth and twigs of wood woven together meticulously in an extension
      of the bird's traditional offering to his mate.



      Ian also places around the walls, large Giclee print images,
      digitally produced on a canvas surface, an appropriate ground
      for the intricately woven views of Hamilton's other works.





'Bower', Ephemara in the Mist, Paluma, North Queensland, November 2010                                                         photos by Leo Davis
















'INTANGIBLES IN TERRA AUSTRALIS'
Australian Art Exhibition
16 April - 13 June 2010
SalaKubo-Kutxa, San Sebastian, Spain







Installation shots at SalaKubo-Kutxa, San Sebastian, Spain











'Maypole for the Golden Bowerbird'. 120 cm high X 110 cm long X 70 cm wide
eucalyptus sticks, papier-mâché, oil, varnish, 2008 (rebuilt 2009)









'Maquette for the Golden Bowerbird', 90cm high X  70 cm long X 35 cm wide
eucalyptus sticks, papier-mâché, oil, varnish, 2008 






 

      


      
Tower # 1, 190 cm X 110 cm

      Giclee print on canvas, 2008
 

      


      
Tower # 3, 210 cm X 110 cm

      Giclee print on canvas, 2008












'Abstract Bower', 50 cm high X 80 cm long X 30 cm wide
eucalyptus sticks, papier-mâché, oil, varnish, 2009






Perc Tucker Regional Gallery
Townsville, Queensland

13 Feb - 23 March 2009






 

      
Out of the Forest

      Review by jacqui stock, Townsville
      Bulletin, 5 March 2009

      
 

      
EXOTIC shapes rise sinuously from the walls
      and floor in Ian Hamilton's exhibition Out of the Forest at Perc
      Tucker Regional Gallery.

      Inspired by the workings and habits of the Golden Bowerbird,
      whose restricted habitat of North Queensland's highland rainforests
      is in decline, the works both speak as a metaphor for the struggle
      of the artist to create order out of chaos and the struggle of
      the bird to survive.

      !n Bird Man the viewer can see Hamilton's total immersion
      in the project which has captured his focus for much of
      the past 40 years and has resulted in many fine artworks both
      sculptural and print oriented.

      The 'bower' of the bird is the dominant inspiration for this
      series of works with variously wrought forms created from the
      earth and twigs of wood woven together meticulously in an extension
      of the bird's traditional offering to his mate.

      This is clearly seen in the large sculptural forms, such as Twin
      Tower and Three Tower, spaced on plinths across the
      gallery floor.

      Twin Towers I and 2 cast sinister shadows across
      the walls as if to warn or the danger to these beautiful birds,
      as global warming and habitat destruction take their toll.

      Around the walls are large Giclee print images, digitally produced
      on a canvas surface, an appropriate ground for the intricately
      woven views of Hamilton's other works, giving the viewer a chance
      to further appreciate the precision and beauty of the floor works.
      Two display cases hold the artist's sketchbooks, each in itself
      a work of art, showing the extensive research undertaken to produce
      the works.

      Hamilton's exhibition is complemented with images by such renowned
      artists as Elizabeth Gould, Tate Adams, Jim Cox and Clifton Pugh,
      all drawn from the Perc Tucker's own extensive collection.







Installation in Perc Tucker Regional Gallery










Installation in Perc Tucker Regional Gallery










Installation in Perc Tucker Regional Gallery









Installation "Out of the Forest' in Mildura Regional Gallery 2005







Journal, pen and ink, 2014







Journal, pen and ink, 2014






Journal, pen and ink, 2014

concept drawing for Palmer Biennial 2010















	Manipulated photos from Palmer Biennial and Hahndorf exhibition. 
Original photos Leo Davis, manipulation Ian Hamilton

	Drawing for fluoro tube and sticks from bower of Golden Bowerbird













Journal drawing
















Page from journal showing sketches for bower' of Great Bowerbird, Townsville














Bower of Great Bowerbird, Townsville. Photo Leo Davis














drawing showing Golden Bowerbird structure' - from field notes and sketches'















drawing showing Golden Bowerbird structure -  from field notes and sketches'














drawing showing Golden Bowerbird structure -  from field notes and sketches'





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