Gerdus Brönn, Dodo

reproduction, print, 17 cm × 12 cm;
signed on the plate, lower right: BRÖNN;
framed, size with frame: 31 cm × 26 cm

The dodo is the official symbol of Mauritius, even though it became extinct in the 17th century.
The dodo appears in the official coat of arms of Mauritius (supporting the shield on the left side).
Its image is featured on Mauritian rupees as a watermark or graphic element.
The silhouette of the dodo adorns the pages of official documents and residents’ passports.


Gerdus Brönn is a contemporary South African painter, a former mineralogist and ceramicist, who currently lives and works in Mauritius.
His life and career bridge two fascinating worlds: earth sciences and the visual arts.

He graduated from the Pretoria School of Art, Music, and Ballet in South Africa.
Early in his artistic career, he achieved great success as a ceramicist, running a popular pottery studio, but painting ultimately became his greatest passion.
Brönn is exceptionally versatile. He specializes in watercolors, oil painting, and the rare and challenging technique of encaustic (which involves using paints mixed with beeswax that are applied while hot).

In his works, he focuses on pure forms, light, and space.
His watercolors are renowned for their extraordinary lightness, precise depiction of human figures, and the interplay of shadows and water reflections—he often portrays local landscapes and cultural scenes (such as ceremonies and festivals in Mauritius).