"The Creation of the Coorong Birds"
Oil on Board
84x121cm
Signed Lower Right, Dated 1972, Titled Lower Left
Prov: Private Collection Adelaide
$8,000-12,000
Illustrated: Echoes of the Dreamtime by Melva Jean Roberts page 73
Creation of the Coorong Birds depicts a traditional Ngarrindjeri Dreaming story from the Coorong and Murray Mouth of South Australia, recounting the transformation of ancestral beings into the waterbirds that continue to inhabit the region’s vast wetlands. Like many Aboriginal creation narratives, the story explains not only the origins of the natural world but also the enduring relationship between people, animals and Country.
According to the tradition, harmony amongst a community of fishermen was disrupted when one of their number failed to fulfil his responsibilities. The resulting conflict culminated in the transformation of the ancestral figures into birds, each acquiring the characteristics by which they remain recognised today. The pelican gained its distinctive pouch beneath its bill, the magpie its familiar black and white plumage, while other birds likewise assumed their enduring forms. More than an explanation of the natural world, the story conveys themes of responsibility, cooperation and the importance of maintaining balance within the community.
Throughout his career, Ainslie Roberts became renowned for his interpretations of Aboriginal mythology, developing a distinctive artistic language that sought to capture the timeless and symbolic nature of the Dreaming. Rather than illustrating the narrative as a literal historical event, Roberts distilled its spiritual essence through stylised forms, decorative patterning and a carefully ordered composition, creating an image that is both visually striking and deeply evocative of the ancient tradition from which it is drawn.
