Three Chain Snake

I’m fascinated by the way the young leaves of this species of eucalypt grow in a curled form. I spent a morning collecting them along Three Chain Road, which is our northern boundary. As I wandered back and forth I kept disturbing an impressively large Black Tiger Snake (Notechis ater niger), which was trying to bask in the sun. It was curled up at the entrance of a cement culvert pipe and kept retreating inside, its home? Our sandy driveway is patterned with wavy snake tracks and there’s one that seems to live under our house. It’s an honour to co-exist with these ancient creatures, they’ve slithered over this land for millennia; we’re only newcomers.

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Three Chain Snake
Young Narrow-leaved Red Mallee (Eucalyptus leptophylla) leaves and flower caps, found rusted metal lid, linen thread and bookbinder’s gum on canvas
105 x 105 cm framed, image diameter 72 cm
Framed in a white frame and circular cut matt, with side spacers, glass and hangers
SOLD – Private collection, South Australia