There are many extraordinary artists who focus on honouring and protecting Mother Earth, none more so than the incomparable botanical artist, Tracey Deep. Saint Cloche is proud to reveal Tracey’s latest body of work, ‘Birdsong’.

“Bird Song” is inspired by songbirds losing their song.

The critically endangered Regent Honeyeater is losing its “song culture” due to the bird’s rapidly declining population. A 2018 study ranked it seventh in a list of Australian birds most likely to go extinct.

Just like humans learning to speak, many birds learn to sing by associating with older birds of the same species. A March 2021 research study warned that the rapid decline in the rare songbird means its young are struggling to learn mating calls as adults disappear, which could further strain conservation efforts to avoid extinction. The complexity of their songs have declined, and 12 per cent of males were found to be singing other species’ songs, including the Currawong and Eastern Rosella. According to one of the authors of the study, this loss of song can reduce the birds’ ability to find a mate, and, if they do, the female is less likely to lay an egg.

Loss of song culture is a major warning sign the Regent Honeyeater is on the brink of extinction.

Global biodiversity loss, destruction of habitat & extensive land clearing has caused population decline of many native bird species.

Bird Song

“Bird song” is my homage to our unique native birds & feathered species around the world, raising awareness of the importance of our voices to support birds losing their song, creating devastating effects for future native bird species, impacting on our future environment & humanity as a whole.

My ”Bird song” exhibition has evolved over years of collecting materials, repurposed found objects, organic material, feathers, wire, rope, fibre, creating patterns, shapes & textures with “bird song” at its core.

– Tracey Deep

Tracey Deep is a national treasure and generous spirit, much loved and hugely revered for her authenticity and devotion to nature, Tracey is a creative adventurer, a biology enthusiast, and magical botanical sculptor.

Celebrated for her sustainable sculptures and installations using organic and industrial recycled materials for over two decades – her creations are as distinctive as a thumbprint, and her signature artworks can be found in private and public collections.

Tracey’s varied clients span the length and breadth of Australia and overseas ranging from the Art Gallery of NSW, NGV Melbourne, Wolgan Valley Emirates resort, Cult Design, Aria restaurant Sydney, Dubai Opera restaurant, Dolphin Hotel Sydney, The Commons Hotel Hobart, Macquarie bank, Rabo bank, Brookfield Place public art works, to work on films such as Mission Impossible and Star Trek, and events from the Winter Olympics to the launch of Hugh Jackman’s company.

Most recently, Tracey was commissioned by The Art Gallery of NSW to create an installation to celebrate Daniel Boyd’s Treasure Island in his first major Australian solo exhibition held in a major public art museum. She has also been commissioned by AMP to create a three-part installation ‘Water Spirit’ that draws inspiration from the original natural landscape of the area, paying homage to the traditional owners of the land.

She is also one of two hundred artists and visionaries from around the world selected to recreate the iconic Louis Vuitton trunk in honour of the 200th birthday of the fashion house’s creator. Tracey’s sculpture ‘Tree Spirit’ was selected as a finalist in the prestigious Wynne Prize 2021 at the Art Gallery of NSW.