I am very aware that, in this moment, the focus of my work is on materials and techniques as opposed to subject matter. I have been using birds a lot, and, to be honest, with not much thought. As suspension has been a big part of my experimentation, I suppose a bird just made sense, and it's something that I've been naturally drawn to. The intricate textures of their feathers are also something I enjoy working with, and find it to be effective mixed with the ephemerality of light. I suppose I've always assumed, once I've mastered my materials, a subject matter would just seem relevant. However during a presentation of my work with my studio group, it was suggested that I look further into the meaning that birds bring. This seems like a great point, and something so obvious, I don't know why it never occurred to me before. If birds are something I enjoy working with, perhaps, I should explore more into why this is so.
Alfred Hitchcock's Birds
Rebecca Horn often uses wings and feathers in her work
Birds also have many religious connotations