Black swans were once thought to be as unlikely as a unicorn. They were first discovered in 1636 at Shark Bay in Western Australia.
Once discovered, as with much of Australia’s exotica, they became highly prized throughout Europe. Napoleon stocked the lakes of his palace with Black Swans, emus and kangaroos to amuse his beloved Josephine.
Black swans feature on the flag and coat of arms of Western Australia. Aboriginal lore tells how ancestors of the Noongar people, the indigenous Australians living in the south west of the State, were once Black Swans who became men. Hear the Noongar story here
They have been featured in ballet, music, literature and film. They are also linked to theories in philosophy, science , economics and computer technologies .
The black swan theory or theory of black swan events is a metaphor that describes an event that comes as a surprise, has a major effect, and is often inappropriately rationalized after the fact with the benefit of hindsight.- Wikipedia
They are a symbol of grace, beauty and transformation.
On the Gold Coast there is a campaign Save Black Swan Lake to save a wetland that is home to black swans from developers wanting to bulldoze the space and turn it into a carpark for the near by Race Track.
You can read all about the proposed development and the steps this group of conservationists are taking to stop the development. For my part, I am donating an artwork for them to auction which will contribute to the funds required to fight the legal battle.
This bird symbolises the unpredictable, resilient essence of nature , defying man’s assumptions and rights of belief. How can we be so short-sighted to bulldoze a small piece of wetland ecosystem sustaining such an iconic Australian treasure? How can we promote the tourism industry of Australia by luring tourists to native animal theme parks on one hand while we tear down habitat with the other?
You can view the artwork on their Facebook site and make a bid in the comments or email me artdiva@bronwyndavies.studio directly and I will pass on the bid
