A selection of these prints can be purchased at:

The Gardens Shop,  Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, Mrs Macquarie's Rd, Sydney

The Florilegium Bookshop, St John's Rd, Glebe, Sydney

Eden Gardens Gallery, Eden Gardens and Garden Centre, 301-307 Lane Cove Rd, Macquarie Park, Sydney

Nokomis Publications, 238 McKee Road, Nth Fitzroy, Melbourne

Emporium Botanica, 1018 High St, Armadale, Victoria

Gallery 126,

126 Jessie St

Armidale NSW 2350

Lake Russell Gallery

12 Smiths Rd

Emerald Beach

(just north of Coffs harbour), NSW

The Forest Gallery

150 Durras Drive

South Durras, NSW

Pinnata Gallery Dorrigo, NSW

David Mackay, Botanical Artist Home      .      About the artist      .      Exhibitions      .      Workshops      .     Contact Cluster Fig Tree Ficus racemosa, Cluster Fig’. Original painting: Acrylic on paper. Print: Giclée print on paper, available in two editions: 400 x 295mm and 825 x 585mm. Each edition is limited to 250 prints. Print price: Smaller print: AUD$140 plus postage*.Larger print: AUD$320 plus postage*. Figs have featured prominently in art for thousands of years, often as a symbol of hidden sexuality or of modesty. The use of fig leaves is apt, of course, as the distinguishing feature of figs is that they hide their sexual organs – their flowers – inside the fig, rather than flamboyantly displaying them as do so many other plants. Each species of fig has its own unique species of wasp that pollinates it. The wasp that pollinates Ficus racemosa is Ceratosolen fusciceps. The male wasp, as shown in this painting, is a blind and wingless creature that lives its whole life (of perhaps a few days) within the dark confines of the fig in which it is born. The female wasp burrows out of the fig and flies off in search of another fig in which to lay her eggs, pollinating the fig as she does so. Once the wasp has done its work, the fig is done with hiding and the rich, red colour of the ripe fruit (in this species, at least) signals its attractive readiness for consumption so that marauders may spread the fig’s seed over the land. This is a sample of the detail in this picture.

*Postage rates: Up to 3 of the smaller prints on paper will be posted within Australia for $8 Australian dollars. Up to 3 of the larger prints on paper will be posted within Australia for $15 Australian dollars. Up to 3 prints the same size will be posted overseas for $25 Australian dollars.  Orders for more than 3 prints will be sent postage-free. Friday, 27 April 2007 Web design by Massiel Barros-Torning 2006