Rainbow Bridge - As a member of the queer community, the artist set out to choose a subject which connected to this tribe, and spoke to his artistic aesthetics for symmetry and beauty
Set against a dramatic graduated back drop of vibrant blues, a group of six rainbow bee-eaters huddle together perched on a eucalypt branch.
The most obvious queer culture reference being the name of this species, reflecting the iridescent coat of feathers. The six bee-eaters represent the six original colours of the Rainbow flag, pink stood for sexuality, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for the sun, green for nature, turquoise for art, indigo for harmony and violet for the soul.
The Australian rainbow bee-eater is an especially social bird, their tightly gathered bodies meld together, it becomes a challenge to discern where one starts and the next begins. They are unified as one.
The unification continues throughout the work as similar tones are mimicked in the branches and leaves of the gum tree they perch on.
The reference image has carefully been selected from the collection by avian specialist photographer Gary Meredith. REK spends countless hours poring over potential images before choosing only the most unique and regal bird photographs.
Rainbow Bridge
100 Cms Wide X 76 Cms Height