I Still Like Birds
Edan Azzopardi
30 July–16 August
Echidna, Acrylic on Fabriano 360gsm, Framed, 46.5x64cm
Edan Azzopardi amongst his paintings
Edan Azzopardi painting in studio.
“Whether it’s a bird that visited a childhood backyard, a familiar call heard at dawn, or an animal encountered unexpectedly, these personal stories often stay with us”.
Edan Azzopardi (still) likes birds, though in his most ambitious exhibition to date the artist expands his repertoire beyond the avian world, delving through childhood memories, Australian nostalgia and the bush roll-call to celebrate an array of marsupials, monotremes and other iconic native wildlife that remind us just how unique and special they are.
While birds remain at the heart of his work, I Still Like Birds brings us back to ground level, highlighting some of the country’s most beloved and distinctive species on land–taking us from the waterways of the shy platypus, into the burrows of the spiked echidna, along the tracks of the feisty Tasmanian Devil, and up into the tall branches of the beloved Koala.
Capturing the charming attributes of each animal and bird in his own modernist leaning style, Azzopardi’s playful paintings seek to provide a connection between us and our native wildlife, instilling in us a deep sentimentality for our own backyard and its wonderful inhabitants.
I Still Like Birds by Edan Azzopardi is presented by BSG Projects. Edan Azzopardi is represented by BSG Projects, Brunswick Street Gallery.
exhibition collection
JOIN US
FRI 31 JULY 6–8PM
OPENING EVENT
Please join us to celebrate the opening of our five newest exhibitions at the gallery, including Edan Azzopardi's I Still Like Birds.
With five dynamic exhibitions opening in the same evening, all are welcome to attend and no RSVP is required.
SAT 8 AUG FROM 3PM
ARTIST EVENT
WITH EDAN AZZOPARDI
Join us for an afternoon artist event with artist Edan Azzopardi as we mingle amongst his flock.
Explore the artistic aviary of Edan Azzopardi, a Melbourne-based painter whose lifelong love of native birds has led to an ongoing ornithological survey celebrating their colourful character.
"Whether it’s a bird that visited a childhood backyard, a familiar call heard at dawn, or an animal encountered unexpectedly, these personal stories often stay with us."
Azzopardi has recently expanded his recently to encompass more distinctive animals, marsupials and monotremes that also inhabit the Australian bush, translating his iconic modernist style across new species such as koalas, kangaroos, bilbies, echidnas, and other beloved creatures.
"For the past five years, I’ve been focused on developing a self-taught practice, largely inspired by Australia’s unique birdlife. While still gravitating towards native bird species (there are hundreds to paint!), I also wanted to pay homage to other animals that have also shaped my connection to the natural world. What transpired from this exploration was a new series of paintings of Australian marsupials and monotremes–each dear to me and inspired by happy memories from childhood, and from surprise sightings in the bush.
Even today, I still find myself looking skyward, scanning bush tracks, local creeks and coastal landscapes for that bird or animal that might capture my attention and inform my next painting.”
Primarily working with acrylic on beautifully textured Fabriano paper, Azzopardi is dedicated to contributing towards a sustainable future for Australian birdlife. He is currently represented by BSG Projects, Brunswick Street Gallery.
