Take-Off – A celebration of birds in paintings, drawings, original prints, sculpture and decorative arts.
As we move out of Covid towards a ‘new normal’, it is interesting that many people have stories to tell of how bird song and birds have lifted their spirits over the past year. It seems apt that birds again can help inspire us to ‘take off’ from the lows of the pandemic to what we hope will be fertile new pastures and opportunities ahead. It’s surely true that many of us have gazed into the sky, seen a bird and dreamt of taking flight?
Many surveys suggest that people have begun to appreciate nature more since the pandemic began, as well as value the lower noise levels and cleaner air. When one considers that as magnificent as the dawn chorus is at this time year, it will be 40 million birds quieter than 50 years ago (that’s how many birds we’ve lost since 1970 largely because of human activity), many hope that this new found interest will be sustained in the years ahead.
Artists have been fascinated by birds for thousands of years. From ancient cave paintings to the present day, humans have long been inspired by birds, their ability to take flight, and the unique perspective they have on the world around us. Birds enthrall us with their stunning plumage, amusing antics, and lilting song. Avian art inspires in endlessly novel ways too, evoking the freedom of flight and the fragility of their earthbound existence.
So this selection of work brings together items from Nature in Art’s own collection and other items lent for display, that together celebrate birds.