THE DODO BIRD AND THE TAMBALACOQUE TREE


Dodo and Tree, acrylic on art block, 2019.

The dodo (Raphus cucullatus) is a turkey-sized, flightless bird of the pigeon family which is native to the island of Mauritius, where it was made the national symbol. The dodo was exterminated by European sailors who settled on the island in the 17th century. During its lifetime, the dodo is said to have a symbiotic relationship with a native tree called the tambalacoque (Sideroxylon grandiflorum), which is also nicknamed the "dodo tree" for this relationship. The fruits of the tree are consumed by the dodo birds and its seeds pass through the bird's digestive system before germinating. Although the dodo bird became extinct in the late 1600s, the tambalacoque continued to live on as there are also other animals such as the local birds, bats and tortoises which helped disperse its seeds in a similar manner.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

COSMIC CONQUERORS [SOLD]

Image
  Cosmic Conquerors , acrylic on canvas, 2023. 30" X 20" In the early days of rocket science, no one knew what spaceflight was like, which is why engineers flew animals into space to test the survivability of spaceflight and learn how to launch and land living beings safely and to better understand how spaceflight might affect human bodies. These efforts paved the way to the subsequent human exploration of space.  Animal space explorers The first animals to reach space were fruit flies, which were launched on Feb. 20, 1947 by the United States. The flies were placed aboard captured German V-2 rockets in an experiment to study radiation exposure at high altitudes. In 3 minutes and 10 seconds of flight, the fruit flies reached an altitude of 68 miles before parachuting back to Earth. The flies miraculously survived the spaceflight. The first animal to orbit the Earth was a dog named Laika, launched aboard Sputnik 2 by the Soviet Union on November 3, 1957. However, Laika died of
Read more

SHRINE OF HARMONY

Image
  Shrine of Harmony , acrylic on canvas, 2023. 24" X 16" The twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac symbolize the earthly branches. In order, they are the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each of the twelve Chinese zodiac signs has a unique character that differentiates them from one another. Every individual is different to every other individual, as they attach themselves to factors (like race, religion, hobbies, etc.) which make these individuals appear similar although these things are shallow. Although some of the signs are conflicting with others (e.g. rat and horse, ox and goat, etc.) and may struggle to feel in sync with each other, building mutual respect and tolerance as well as accepting and appreciating differences in each other are vital for stability. Despite said differences, everyone is equal in their basic wish for peace and happiness. The painting is inspired by visits to Thean Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur, where
Read more

NINE DRAGONS: CELESTIAL PROWESS

Image
  Nine Dragons: Celestial Prowess , acrylic on canvas, 2023. 20" X 20" The artist welcomes the Year of the Dragon with this painting which depicts nine dragons facing an orb of fire.  The painting is loosely based on another painting of nine dragons , which was designed such that there is a central dragon at the center `blowing' Qi. The dragon at the center approaches the flaming orb, and the dragons to the right and left twist towards the center, with each exhibiting different gestures. The dragon captures the essence of the sun and the moon, and the number nine represents the endless positive energy of heaven and earth. The artist includes background elements like clouds, waves, fire and cliffs, with the intent to include the five elements (earth, fire, water, wood, metal) aspect into the painting.  earth - cliffs fire - flaming orb water - waves wood - green color metal - gold color
Read more