Richard Lewer 'White Albatross' Lithograph Print

White Albatross editioned print by Richard Lewer. 

In 'Bird Song', a new series of original lithographs made in collaboration with APW printers, Richard Lewer highlights some of Australia's threatened species - the featured birds range from vulnerable to the critically endangered. Lewer aims to create a space for these birds to be appreciated, an archive for their existence and beauty. Given that birds are so integral to the artist's practice, the vulnerability of the subject matter is not only ecologically devastating but also personally challenging.

The Shy Albatross (Thalassarche cauta) is endemic to Australia, breeding only on three small islands around Tasmania. The Shy Albatross can live up to 60 years, characterised by low annual adult mortality, annual breeding, long-term pair bonding, and low fecundity (one egg per breeding season). With only 15,000 pairs of shy albatrosses left, one contributing factor to their threatened status is that they are vulnerable to injury and death associated with commercial fishing. Birds may be hooked or entangled by longline fishing gear and injured or drowned. Birds may also collide with or become entangled by trawl gear, particularly warp wires and net sonde cables. Climate change is the other major threat to the shy albatross, with rising sea leaves, rising temperatures, and more violent weather, keeping a safe habitat is essential to their conservationwith only one egg per year, every death has a large and long-term impact on the population.

'Bird Song' premieres a new suite of fifteen original prints by Richard Lewer produced in collaboration with APW printers at Australian Print Workshop, Melbourne, 2024.

Signed, edition of 20. Lithograph print, 2024. Unframed. 

Dimensions: 38.5 x 49.5 cm

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