THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS
The Language of Birds was a practice-based research project carried out at The Royal College of Art in London 2023 whilst completing a Master of Research in Arts and Humanities. The projects' intention was to reveal the hidden language of birds, both via practice - translating the sound language of birds into visual sculptures - and via research, investigating the idea that bird song is a magical language that can open new pathways of knowing.
I use a strict methodology of nature-making not man-making, employing technology as a means of translation so that the intelligence of nature can present itself and 'The Language of Birds' is one of the many projects I have developed using this form of art practice. In this case the natural element presenting itself was the sound of birds. The title of the project nods to the ancient mythological/occult philosophy and belief that birds use a language that communicates only with those initiated.
During the project the aim of the practice was to channel a material form from the sound of birds, these forms then to be presented as talismans - the power and magic of nature inherent within them. The sculptural works created I referred to as Syrinx Sculptures, as the syrinx is the larynx of a bird.
During the process of the research I became interested in the philosophy of disidentification, so in hoping to provoke new ways of thinking about our existing taxonomy of sexual identity and as a model of critical disidentification, I decided to work solely with the sound of gynandromorphic birds to create the material forms - a gynandromorph being a creature who presents as both male and female.
I utilised the sculptural work in the performance SOUND AS ORACLE in which the Syrinx Sculptures created a space for a reading from a collection of philosophical poems written during the project. The performance was posed as a ritual, an initiation - not only of itself, but also for the artist and audience.
THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS RCA RESEARCH PROGRAMMES
SYRINX SCULPTURES
Passer Domesticus (House Sparrow) 250mm x 160mm Binded plaster powder sculpted by 3D Printer (left)
Cardinalis Cardinalis (Northern Cardinal) in plaster sculpted by human hand using a 'sound template' (middle)
Erythrura gouldiae (Gouldian Finch) in Binded plaster powder sculpted by 3D Printer (right)
Erythrura gouldiae (Gouldian Finch)
Passer Domesticus (House Sparrow)
Cardinalis Cardinalis (Northern Cardinal)
Gilbot (7 axis robotic system at the Royal College of Arts, London) sculpting 'Eclectus Roratus' - as part of Language of the Birds project.
