John Coburn - Bird Totems 1990

In the 1990 lithograph "Bird Totems," John Coburn continues his exploration of the spiritual and natural world through a lens of abstract symbolism that has become a hallmark of his artistic language. This work, like many of Coburn's pieces, is rich in the cultural heritage of his Australian roots, often drawing from the indigenous art and the mystical landscapes that surround him.

Coburn's canvas is a dialogue between the earthly and the ethereal, a patterned orchestration of forms that conjures images of ancient totemic structures. The stylized bird figures in "Bird Totems" are rendered in bold, earth-toned hues, standing as guardians of a sacred narrative. They are totems not just in the sense of traditional indigenous carvings but as emblematic carriers of spiritual significance, each bird a vessel of ancestral stories and the natural world's profound mysteries.

The lithograph's striking use of colour, with its deep reds and browns set against the starkness of black, creates a visual tension that is both arresting and harmonious. This choice of palette, evocative of the Australian outback, reinforces the connection between the artwork and its cultural context. The birds themselves, abstracted to their most basic forms, are timeless in their simplicity, suggesting an essence of being rather than a literal representation.
Historically, Coburn's work has been influenced by his deep appreciation for the landscape and spirituality of Australia. His abstract forms are often seen as a bridge between Western art forms and the rich visual language of Aboriginal art. In "Bird Totems," there is a sense that Coburn is paying homage to the spiritual practices that venerate nature as a living, breathing entity, full of ancestral spirits and stories.

Coburn's lithograph is a modern interpretation of ancient themes, a contemplative piece that invites reflection on the connections between humanity and the environment, the past and the present. "Bird Totems" is not just an artwork; it is a meditative experience, an encounter with the timeless and the sacred, presented with the sensitivity and depth that characterises Coburn's best work.

Materials - Multi-plate Lithograph, Hand Finished by the Artist, Archival Framing under UV protective perspex.
Size - 19 7/10 × 27 3/5 × 1/10 in | 50 × 70 × 0.3 cm
Rarity - Limited edition
Medium - Print
Condition - Pristine Condition, newly framed, archival framing and UV protected.
Signature - Hand-signed by artist, sticker label, Hand signed by artist, dated in black pencil. Titled "Bird Totems" lower centre.
Certificate of authenticity - Included (one issued by gallery; one issued by authorized authenticating body)
Publisher - Created by John Coburn, printed by Neil Leveson June 1990, Australian Print Workshop, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1990.
Image rights - Image Copyright the Artist