Lightweight stainless steel sheet, polished to a high level of reflectivity, has been chosen to interpret the layered feathers of one of Australia's national icons, the dancing brolga.
Designing and creating a trio of life-size sculptures has occupied much of Allen Minogue's time since his retirement as an engineer and designer.
The birds, inspired by a visit to the Northern Territory, have cast grade 316 legs and heads and feathers made from 2B finish 316 sheet in four
thicknesses, from 0.55mm to 1.2mm.
The feathers are all individually shaped using a hand guillotine and other hand tools. They are then screwed into a fibreglass body moulded from a wooden carving. The first figure, which took 700 hours to complete, has 700 feathers. The poses are realistic, with the central male bird
captured at the moment of taking flight.
This article featured in Australian Stainless magazine - Issue 22, September 2002.