photo of a fragment of Barbara Hanrahan's Girl with a bird on her head 1989 37/100
linocut black ink on paper
printed by Alec Bolton at the Brindabella press, collection UNSW Canberra Academy Library
under the peach tree shade
the summer after teachers’ college
she drew into and on her world
in there in there, out here
the women and
girls swirled
leaf haired
and spiral breasted
hand bagged
heeled and sewn
eyes and
teeth soulful sharp
jagged, Rapunzel
hair netted
frocked or naked
Adelaide hot
women
and men of determined
genitals
vulvas prominent
as phalluses
embroidered
printed dresses
gardens of
people, people gardens
animals of Eden
tattoo cheeked women
pock marked, blushed with
heat
scarified sweet, streams of
hair
a net petal
and twig, eucalypt
Girl with a bird on her head
Hanrahan’s first
linocut
she remade
you years later
big eyed with
a summer pigeon
your crown,
claws laced in
small hands
part your hair
reach up to spread the blooms
of your
bosoms, you look
out of the
frame to the side
girl with a bird
on your head
from a distance
you are an
icon
a soldier
in her helmet
an abbess
an
illumination
I imagine
your first rendering
how you
sang to Barbara Hanrahan
I am here,
you found us
http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/150.1990.4/
Wow. That first stanza really knocked my socks off. I love the coiled energy and power of those young women. Astonishing.
ReplyDeleteThanks! The energy is Barbara. With any ekphrastic work I always feel frustrated I can't do the artwork justice.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you liked the women. I love Barbara Hanrahan people, especially the women.
I really, really enjoyed this ekphrastic!
ReplyDelete