Dog walks at Colleges Crossing - chestnut breasted manikins and kangaroo grass Jane Du Rand Jane Du Rand - Dog walks at Colleges Crossing - chestnut breasted manikins and kangaroo grass
Dog walks at Colleges Crossing - chestnut breasted manikins and kangaroo grass 2021
Dog walks at Colleges Crossing - chestnut breasted manikins and kangaroo grassJane Du RandDog walks at Colleges Crossing - chestnut breasted manikins and kangaroo grass
Dog walks at Colleges Crossing - chestnut breasted manikins and kangaroo grass2021
glazed ceramics and glass mosaic
27 x 27 x 10 cm
$3,800  ENQUIRE
Just north of Noosa - black cockatoo and banksia leaves Jane Du Rand Jane Du Rand - Just north of Noosa - black cockatoo and banksia leaves
Just north of Noosa - black cockatoo and banksia leaves 2021
Just north of Noosa - black cockatoo and banksia leavesJane Du RandJust north of Noosa - black cockatoo and banksia leaves
Just north of Noosa - black cockatoo and banksia leaves2021
glazed ceramic and glass mosaic
26 x 26 x 10 cm
SOLD 
No more hollows - generic parrots, golden hollows Jane Du Rand Jane Du Rand - No more hollows - generic parrots, golden hollows
No more hollows - generic parrots, golden hollows 2021
No more hollows - generic parrots, golden hollowsJane Du RandNo more hollows - generic parrots, golden hollows
No more hollows - generic parrots, golden hollows2021
glazed ceramics, glass and porcelain mosaic
162 x 75 x 75 cm
$26,000  ENQUIRE
Cooloola Great Walk - allocasuarina and red tailed black cockatoo Jane Du Rand Jane Du Rand - Cooloola Great Walk - allocasuarina and red tailed black cockatoo
Cooloola Great Walk - allocasuarina and red tailed black cockatoo 2021
Cooloola Great Walk - allocasuarina and red tailed black cockatooJane Du RandCooloola Great Walk - allocasuarina and red tailed black cockatoo
Cooloola Great Walk - allocasuarina and red tailed black cockatoo2021
glazed ceramic pieces and glass mosaic on glass fibre and perspex
90 x 90 x 18 cm
$12,000  ENQUIRE
Walking at Mt. Coot-tha - brush turkey in the leaf litter Jane Du Rand Jane Du Rand - Walking at Mt. Coot-tha - brush turkey in the leaf litter
Walking at Mt. Coot-tha - brush turkey in the leaf litter 2021
Walking at Mt. Coot-tha - brush turkey in the leaf litterJane Du RandWalking at Mt. Coot-tha - brush turkey in the leaf litter
Walking at Mt. Coot-tha - brush turkey in the leaf litter2021
glazed ceramics and glass mosaic
27 x 27 x 10 cm
$3,500  ENQUIRE
Fading away - eucalyptus macrocarpa with warty faced / regent honeyeaters Jane Du Rand Jane Du Rand - Fading away - eucalyptus macrocarpa with warty faced / regent honeyeaters
Fading away - eucalyptus macrocarpa with warty faced / regent honeyeaters 2021
Fading away - eucalyptus macrocarpa with warty faced / regent honeyeatersJane Du RandFading away - eucalyptus macrocarpa with warty faced / regent honeyeaters
Fading away - eucalyptus macrocarpa with warty faced / regent honeyeaters2021
glazed ceramics and glass mosaic
150 x 80 x 80 cm
$25,000  ENQUIRE
Sunrise at Christmas Creek - cicadas with galahs Jane Du Rand Jane Du Rand - Sunrise at Christmas Creek - cicadas with galahs
Sunrise at Christmas Creek - cicadas with galahs 2021
Sunrise at Christmas Creek - cicadas with galahsJane Du RandSunrise at Christmas Creek - cicadas with galahs
Sunrise at Christmas Creek - cicadas with galahs2021
glazed ceramic and glass mosaic
120 x 60 x 60 cm
SOLD 
New year at Christmas Creek - cicadas and galah Jane Du Rand Jane Du Rand - New year at Christmas Creek - cicadas and galah
New year at Christmas Creek - cicadas and galah 2021
New year at Christmas Creek - cicadas and galahJane Du RandNew year at Christmas Creek - cicadas and galah
New year at Christmas Creek - cicadas and galah2021
glazed ceramic and glass mosaic
38 x 38 x 12 cm
SOLD 
Burnt - banksia coccinea with red tailed black cockatoo Jane Du Rand Jane Du Rand - Burnt - banksia coccinea with red tailed black cockatoo
Burnt - banksia coccinea with red tailed black cockatoo 2021
Burnt - banksia coccinea with red tailed black cockatooJane Du RandBurnt - banksia coccinea with red tailed black cockatoo
Burnt - banksia coccinea with red tailed black cockatoo2021
glazed ceramic black and terra cotta clay, glass mosaic
125 x 90 x 90 cm
SOLD 
Not for much longer - swift parrots with banksia speciosa Jane Du Rand Jane Du Rand - Not for much longer - swift parrots with banksia speciosa
Not for much longer - swift parrots with banksia speciosa 2021
Not for much longer - swift parrots with banksia speciosaJane Du RandNot for much longer - swift parrots with banksia speciosa
Not for much longer - swift parrots with banksia speciosa2021
glazed ceramic pieces and glass mosaic on perspex
60 x 60 x 10 cm
SOLD 
Not easily found - regent honeyeater and eucalyptus Jane Du Rand Jane Du Rand - Not easily found - regent honeyeater and eucalyptus
Not easily found - regent honeyeater and eucalyptus 2021
Not easily found - regent honeyeater and eucalyptusJane Du RandNot easily found - regent honeyeater and eucalyptus
Not easily found - regent honeyeater and eucalyptus2021
glazed ceramic and glass mosaic
28 x 28 x 10 cm
SOLD 
Koala Hill track on a Saturday - king parrot Jane Du Rand Jane Du Rand - Koala Hill track on a Saturday - king parrot
Koala Hill track on a Saturday - king parrot 2021
Koala Hill track on a Saturday - king parrotJane Du RandKoala Hill track on a Saturday - king parrot
Koala Hill track on a Saturday - king parrot2021
glazed ceramic and glass mosaic
28 x 28 x 8 cm
SOLD 
In my sister's garden - king parrot and fire wheel tree Jane Du Rand Jane Du Rand - In my sister's garden - king parrot and fire wheel tree
In my sister's garden - king parrot and fire wheel tree 2021
In my sister's garden - king parrot and fire wheel treeJane Du RandIn my sister's garden - king parrot and fire wheel tree
In my sister's garden - king parrot and fire wheel tree2021
glazed ceramic pieces and glass mosaic on perspex
60 x 60 x 10 cm
SOLD 
From my bedroom window - rainbow lorikeets, grevillea and bottle brush Jane Du Rand Jane Du Rand - From my bedroom window - rainbow lorikeets, grevillea and bottle brush
From my bedroom window - rainbow lorikeets, grevillea and bottle brush 2021
From my bedroom window - rainbow lorikeets, grevillea and bottle brushJane Du RandFrom my bedroom window - rainbow lorikeets, grevillea and bottle brush
From my bedroom window - rainbow lorikeets, grevillea and bottle brush2021
glazed ceramic pieces and glass mosaic on glass fibre and fibre cement
90 x 90 x 16 cm
$14,000  ENQUIRE
On the side of the road - crested pigeon Jane Du Rand Jane Du Rand - On the side of the road - crested pigeon
On the side of the road - crested pigeon 2021
On the side of the road - crested pigeonJane Du RandOn the side of the road - crested pigeon
On the side of the road - crested pigeon2021
glazed ceramic and glass mosaic
28 x 28 x 10 cm
SOLD 
Walking Noosa to Rainbow Beach - catbird in forest ferns Jane Du Rand Jane Du Rand - Walking Noosa to Rainbow Beach - catbird in forest ferns
Walking Noosa to Rainbow Beach - catbird in forest ferns 2021
Walking Noosa to Rainbow Beach - catbird in forest fernsJane Du RandWalking Noosa to Rainbow Beach - catbird in forest ferns
Walking Noosa to Rainbow Beach - catbird in forest ferns2021
glazed ceramic pieces and glass mosaic on perspex
70 x 70 x 10 cm
$6,500  ENQUIRE
Boombana walking track - catbird in forest ferns Jane Du Rand Jane Du Rand - Boombana walking track - catbird in forest ferns
Boombana walking track - catbird in forest ferns 2021
Boombana walking track - catbird in forest fernsJane Du RandBoombana walking track - catbird in forest ferns
Boombana walking track - catbird in forest ferns2021
glazed ceramics
26 x 26 x 10 cm
SOLD 
In my neighbours garden - bottlebrush and blue faced honeyeater Jane Du Rand Jane Du Rand - In my neighbours garden - bottlebrush and blue faced honeyeater
In my neighbours garden - bottlebrush and blue faced honeyeater 2021
In my neighbours garden - bottlebrush and blue faced honeyeaterJane Du RandIn my neighbours garden - bottlebrush and blue faced honeyeater
In my neighbours garden - bottlebrush and blue faced honeyeater2021
glazed ceramic and glass mosaic
26 x 26 x 8 cm
SOLD 
Walking around Lake Manchester - whip bird and forest ferns Jane Du Rand Jane Du Rand - Walking around Lake Manchester - whip bird and forest ferns
Walking around Lake Manchester - whip bird and forest ferns 2021
Walking around Lake Manchester - whip bird and forest fernsJane Du RandWalking around Lake Manchester - whip bird and forest ferns
Walking around Lake Manchester - whip bird and forest ferns2021
glazed ceramic and glass mosaic
26 x 26 x 10 cm
SOLD 
Lamington National Park - wompoo pigeon Jane Du Rand Jane Du Rand - Lamington National Park - wompoo pigeon
Lamington National Park - wompoo pigeon 2021
Lamington National Park - wompoo pigeonJane Du RandLamington National Park - wompoo pigeon
Lamington National Park - wompoo pigeon2021
glazed ceramics
26 x 26 x 8 cm
SOLD 
‘ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS’ Installation view Jane Du Rand Jane Du Rand - ‘ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS’ Installation view
‘ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS’ Installation view 2021
‘ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS’ Installation viewJane Du Rand‘ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS’ Installation view
‘ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS’ Installation view2021
‘ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS’ Installation view Jane Du Rand Jane Du Rand - ‘ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS’ Installation view
‘ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS’ Installation view 2021
‘ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS’ Installation viewJane Du Rand‘ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS’ Installation view
‘ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS’ Installation view2021
ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS installation View Jane Du Rand Jane Du Rand - ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS installation View
ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS installation View 2021
ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS installation ViewJane Du RandORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS installation View
ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS installation View2021
‘ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS’ Installation view Jane Du Rand Jane Du Rand - ‘ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS’ Installation view
‘ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS’ Installation view 2021
‘ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS’ Installation viewJane Du Rand‘ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS’ Installation view
‘ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS’ Installation view2021

Catalogue Essay by Diana Warnes Head of Curatorial Projects, HOTA Home of the Arts, Gold Coast

A Bird in the Hand

One must have a sharp eye and a quick memory to be a twitcher. To catch a glimpse of movement and then recall specific details of a bird is a feat achieved only through enduring study. What was the colour of the rump? Did it have a band under its chin? A cap above its eyes? The vegetation is key too. Was the bird spotted flitting amongst the long native grasses? Or seen poking its head out of a eucalypt hollow? Australia’s birds, charming and quizzical, have captivated South African born ceramicist Jane du Rand.

Moving to Australia some seven years ago, du Rand had initial hesitancy about what the landscape offered. The flora and fauna were not familiar, and it was only through joining a bushwalking group that the dense, abstract qualities of the Australian bush and its wildlife began to reveal itself. Du Rand would take long walks through the great national parks of south eastern Queensland, all within an easy drive from her Ipswich home.

Motivated to learn more, she would visit her local library to source images and information about birds and vegetation of the regions where she went bushwalking. Du Rand also called on the natural history illustrations of Ferdinand Bauer (1760-1826), James Sowerby (1757-1822), and John (1804-1881) and Elizabeth Gould (1804-1841) – to name just a few. The fine lithographs, with the taxidermy birds in slightly unnatural positions, and the minute, scientific renderings of feathers and scales started to find parallels with du Rand’s own ceramic practice.

Equally on her own walks, and even her own backyard, she was also observing the movement of birds. Increasingly du Rand found dead birds and collected these, which a taxidermist friend then preserved for her. Studying from a specimen, but also inspired by those natural history illustrations, du Rand has worked Australia’s birds into her practice. The cat bird, crested pigeon, swift parrot, red-browed finch, rainbow lorikeet, red tailed black cockatoo, fairy wren, and chestnut breasted mannikin have all in some way formed part of her most recent body of work.

For du Rand does not pursue an exact likeness of a bird, or an element of vegetation – either in colour or in form. Yet, her ceramics do mimic the behaviours and likeness of birds to convey their unique characteristics. Her large disks, with their wreath like forms, but inverted centres, are realised through layering botanical elements to create a sense of a low-relief. One large disk features stylised rainbow lorikeets poking their heads out from amongst grevillea and bottle brush. The centre of the disk is covered with green, glistening tesserae, creating a safe and protective space for the birds.

As a bushwalker, du Rand is keenly aware of the human impact on the fragile, natural world. In one of her works, a tall pillar titled There are no more hollows (2021), du Rand is devoted to representing the importance of hollows for breeding and nesting birds. Due to logging and bushfires, these vital hollows are under threat. Here, she has lined the hollows with golden tesserae to reinforce their preciousness. The birds seem playful, clambering over the pillar with wings splayed, bodies contorted and heads poking out of hollows. Yet upon closer consideration, there are far too many birds for the number of hollows available.

Walking and observing are key components of Du Rand’s ceramics practice. Every New Year’s Day, she bushwalks at Christmas Creek in Lamington National Park. Once, unable to sleep, she rose and had a chance bird encounter. Cicadas were emerging from their shells, and galahs – those boisterous and opportunistic pink and grey birds – came swooping in for a feed. Du Rand recalls this experience in Sunrise at Christmas Creek (2021), a large red and teal pot, which she has covered in ceramic cicada shells, resembling the stalactite vaulting of a dome at the Alhambra in Spain.

Du Rand is used to working on architectural features – having completed many commissions globally before moving to Australia. This sense of scale, drama, colour and materiality are realised in this new body of work, which reveals an open heart and an inquisitive mind about her adopted home. Birds and plant life are represented in stylised, sculptural forms, which du Rand embeds with a visual history, but equally a contemporary context. Our birds and their habitats are vulnerable, and du Rand reminds of us of this with compelling strength.

June 2021

Jane Du Rand 'Ornithological Observations'

South-African born, Ipswich-based Jane du Rand uses her art practice to document and better understand the world around her, building three-dimensional landscapes that feature the native flora and fauna she encounters while bushwalking west of Brisbane. Having made note of everything she’s seen while hiking, she recreates these scenes using a combination of ceramic and mosaic techniques. Presented under glass cloches, they are reminiscent of the dioramas found in natural history museums – a contemporary sculptural version of the early natural history illustrations and specimen displays that existed in the Victorian era.

Originally trained as an architect, du Rand’s practice also extends to large-scale mosaic murals, with her intricate designs incorporated into the architecture of civic and private buildings around the world. Made by hand in her Brisbane studio before being shipped overseas and assembled on site, these installations allow du Rand to fully reflect the environment in which they’re situated – each mural densely populated with iconography unique to the area.

Having juggled these dual arms of her practice for over 20 years, du Rand is now gravitating towards more expansive sculptural works, drawing on her mural practice to create huge vessels and urns that measure over one and a half metres high, and feature imagery of the natural world in mosaic and ceramic relief.

An alumna of the University of KwaZulu Natal in Durban, South Africa, Jane du Rand is internationally recognised for her large-scale ceramic mosaics commissioned for public buildings and private homes in Europe, the UK, the USA, South Africa and Australia. Awarded ‘Best of Show’ at the 2017 Ipswich Art Award, she was a finalist in the 2020 Queensland Regional Art Awards, the 2018 Ipswich Art Award, and the Mercedes Benz Award for South African Art Projects in Public Spaces in 2009. Her solo exhibition ‘Living in Ipswich’ will be presented at Ipswich Art Gallery in 2020.

Carrie McCarthy, October 2020

Jane Du Rand

  • Born 1969, South Africa
  • Lives and works Queensland

EDUCATION

1994

  • Post Graduate Diploma in Architecture, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa

1992

  • Bachelor of Architecture Cum Laude, University of KwaZulu Natall, Durban, South Africa

1987

  • Michaelis School of Art, University of Cape Town

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2021

  • 'Ornithological Observations', EDWINA CORLETTE, Brisbane

2020

  • 'Living In Ipswich', Ipswich Art Gallery, Queensland
  • 'Artefact', EDWINA CORLETTE, Brisbane

2008

  • 'Loathing and Loving and Giving', artSpace Durban Gallery, South Africa

2003

  • 'Forrest of Columns', KZNSA Gallery, Durban, South Africa

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2020

  • Sydney Contemporary Presents, EDWINA CORLETTE

2019

  • 'The Stockroom Exhibition', EDWINA CORLETTE, Brisbane
  • 'Artisans in the Gardens Exhibition', Botanic Gardens, Sydney

2018

  • 'Artisans in the Gardens Exhibition', Botanic Gardens, Sydney
  • 'Summer Exhibition', Flying Arts, Judith Wright Centre, Brisbane

2017

  • 'Artisans in the Gardens Exhibition', Botanic Gardens, Sydney

2015

  • 'Squared', Birds Gallery, Melbourne

2005

  • Handmade, curated by Storm van Rensburg, KZNA Gallery, Durban, South Africa

PUBLIC ART PROJECTS

2020

  • Sculpture, All Hallows' School, Brisbane

2018

  • Mural, Donate Life, Queensland Health

2014

  • Sculpture, Croydon Civic Square,Victoria

2011

  • Mural, Long Island, New York

2009

  • Mural, Moses Mabida Soccer Stadium, Durban, South Africa

2008

  • Mural, Donkin Public Park, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

2007

  • Mural, Baragwanath Taxi Rank, Soweto, Johannesburg
  • Memorial of Bessie Head, Sunday Times Centenary
  • Mural, International Convention Centre, Durban, South Africa

2003

  • Mural, Constitutional Court building, Johannesburg

AWARDS

2020

  • Finalist, Queensland Regional Arts Award, Flying Arts Alliance

2019

  • Recipient, Regional Arts Development Fund, Arts Queensland

2018

  • Finalist, Sculpture, Ipswich Art Award

2017

  • Winner, Best Of Show, Ipswich Art Award

2009

  • Finalist, Mercedes Benz Award for South African Art Projects in Public Spaces

December 8, 2020

JANE DU RAND AT IPSWICH ART GALLERY

LIVING IN IPSWICH

Solo Exhibition, Jane du Rand

Jane du Rand was the recipient of the 2019 Regional Arts Development Fund which supported her to develop a new body of work focused on the architecture and history of Ipswich, Queensland. These works aim to capture the essence of the homes that reflect the lives of the people living in Ipswich and to create a ceramic record of “living in Ipswich”.

"The architect in me finds the urban fabric of Ipswich to be beautiful and unique. The collection of Queenslander houses and their positions in the streetscapes around Ipswich are amazing and I cannot go about my daily commutes without constantly being fascinated by the houses that pass me by. There are really beautiful historical homes, but there are also so many wonderful “everyday” Queenslanders of varying age and condition lived in by local people, and it is these homes and their occupants, and the way people use and live in their houses that interest me the most." Jane du Rand 2020

READ MORE HERE

October 17, 2019

JANE DU RAND BONDI MURAL

Jane Du Rand has been commissioned by the Travel Corporation to complete a 6.8m x 4m mural in the foyer of the Travel Corporation Headquarters in Sydney.

JANE DU RAND - IN THE STUDIO
JANE DU RAND 'ARTEFACT' 2020 — EDWINA CORLETTE GALLERY
JANE DU RAND 'ARTEFACT' 2020 Exhibition walk through at Edwina Corlette Gallery
JANE DU RAND AT IPSWICH ART GALLERY
JANE DU RAND 'Ornithological Observations' 2021

22 June 2021 – 10 July 2021
Jane Du Rand ‘Ornithological Observations’

17 March 2020 – 15 April 2020
Jane Du Rand ‘Artefact’