Hello! My name is Anne and I live in Canberra, Australia.
Photo:Amanda Thorsen for HerCanberra
My love of birds
In 2015, my love affair for birds began with an exhibition at Nishi Gallery, Canberra Australia.
Protean
The theme was Protean. According to Greek mythology the grizzled old shepherd Proteus would change his shape to avoid sharing knowledge.
Sparrows
While walking around Lake Burley Griffin and local cafes, I’d notice little birds which struck me as dull, brown and boring.
I created a body of work to transform these pests and elevate their status in the avian world to one of beauty. By using a clay material known for its translucent white, I knew Southern Ice Porcelain slip would help me to create a flock of birds and make them the envy of their transformation.
The resting bird shape was purposely made as minimalist.
A reviewer said, Anne Masters’ Domestic sparrow series distills the essence of these ubiquitous birds in semi-abstract white forms pierced and decorated as if they were an avian quilt.
She was right. An individual pattern for each bird was drawn from the act of hand stitching my first quilt with my sister when I was in my 20s.
Sapphire Coast Birds
I continued investigating birds and travelled to the South Coast to research bird life in their natural environment and those in cared rehabilitation.
I introduced a palette of black, blue and white. I still kept the bird, in minimalist form to explore the impact of climate change and human presence on bird habitats.
People gravitated to a hand-held object that was light, smooth to touch and capture their imagination.
Precious Birds
In 2020, after the bushfires raged across Australia, I felt compelled to revisit my sparrow series. Sitting in my studio, I refined the patterns and pierced more holes to emphasize the fragility of birdlife consumed at a rate unseen before. Now, more than ever we need to care for our bird/wildlife.
Birdie
In 2024, I was commissioned a public artwork to grace the hotel foyer entrance of Novotel Sydney City. The wallpaper in the restaurant ‘Birdie’ was the beginning point to extend my decorative skills and impress and sgraffito floral and plant patterns.
I felt the magic when making 22 birds by hand. They were framed to show birds flying in (guests coming in to the hotel) and birds flying out (guests leaving). A celebratory moment for co-bird and human habitation.
As I come to a close on my Winter Sabbatical, I will continue to focus on my practice through research and professional mentorship. I’m at an exciting tipping point of my work. I look forward to telling you my next story.
