T E M P L E
Leila Jeffreys x Melvin J. Montalban
ABOUT
Drawn from their monumental video installation Temple, Australian artists Leila Jeffreys and Melvin J. Montalban present two limited edition works – Temple, Red-Tail and Temple, Lift – as a homage to the cockatoo, a bird that has called Australia home for over 23 million years.
Featuring red-tailed black cockatoos, sulphur-crested cockatoos and galahs, the birds become both medium and message, drawing attention to the fleeting and sacred connections between humans and the natural world.
The work invites the viewer into a spiritual refuge — a space of awe, reverence and connection to the divine. It offers a place for reflection, and perhaps a rekindling of care and responsibility for our shared planet.
Artists: Leila Jeffreys x Melvin J. Montalban
Cinematographer: Chris Bryan
Composer: Jackson Milas
Bird Trainer: Ravi Wasan, Feathered Friends Bird Sanctuary
SELECTED WORKS
Temple, Red-Tail (2025)
Digital work. Single-channel 4K video, stereo audio.
Continuous loop – 5 min 30 sec
Temple, Lift (2025)
Digital work. Single-channel 4K video, stereo audio.
Continuous loop – 3 min 55 sec
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Visual artist Leila Jeffreys (b. 1972) and filmmaker Melvin J. Montalban (b. 1980) began collaborating in response to Australia’s devastating Black Summer bushfires of 2019, joining forces to grieve the immense loss of life and habitat. In the spirit of renewal, they have since created several immersive video art installations, combining sculptural scale with meditative, multi-channel films centred on Australian birdlife.
Jeffreys is best known for her visceral and mysterious portraits of birds that subvert classical portraiture while engaging deeply with environmental themes. Montalban is a filmmaker whose work explores the human psyche, our impact on the world and each other, and the potential of storytelling as a path to healing.
