1788

Australia underwent profound change starting in 1788, when the First Fleet arrived on its shores at Botany Bay, NSW. From that moment, the land as it had been forever altered. The smooth valleys, pastures, suburbs, and highways we see today were once wild and tangled, covered by dense scrub and bushland. The new arrivals cut through this landscape, reshaping it to suit their needs, seeing it as a hostile environment that needed taming. They knew more settlers would follow, and it seemed only natural to forge a new world, even if little thought was given to preserving what had existed before.

The Firehawks depicted above the fireplace—three Australian bird species ( Brown Falcon, Black Kite and Whistling Kite)—are known for their remarkable behaviour of spreading bushfires. They pick up burning branches and drop them in other areas to flush out prey, a practice deeply rooted in Aboriginal stories. As a nod to the mid-1900s ceramic 'three ducks on the wall' motif, the Firehawks serve as a metaphor for how we, too, have reshaped the land.

Like the Firehawks, we change the landscape to meet our needs, often at the expense of the environment and others. The tension between building our homes and coexisting with the natural world and Indigenous communities remains a pressing issue, as we continue to navigate how to balance everyone's needs.

Firebirds L 50 x 35cm M 30 x 30cm S 21 x 28cm

Fireplace 110 x 134 x 34cm