"Avian Radiance" combines the realms of art, exploration, and craftsmanship. These pieces allow viewers to interact with them from different angles, revealing new details under varying light conditions, whether natural or artificial.
This collection draws an analogy between the mating rituals in nature and human dating behaviours. It explores the beauty of bird courtship seasons, presenting the different stages of the spring ritual in birds as analogous to human rituals. The behaviours exhibited by birds during mating season—disguise, display, observation, and choice—mirror the complexities of human courtship.
- The Lookout
In "The Lookout," birds are perched on branches, checking each other out from a safe distance. Some wear masks while others do not, symbolising the initial phase of courtship where both avian and human participants observe and assess potential partners. The painting captures the cautious and inquisitive nature of early romantic interactions.
- Bird Incognito
The bird is wearing a mask and not showing its true colours. This allows for scouting for a mate without revealing its true identity, mirroring the cautious approach humans sometimes take in the early stages of dating.
3. Bop (Bird of Prey)
"Bop" showcases a bird displaying its colours proudly and dynamically. It highlights a bold approach to courtship, where the bird, much like certain humans, confidently shows off its attributes to attract a mate. It contrasts with the incognito approach, representing different personalities and strategies in both avian and human courtship.
- The Courting
"The Courting" depicts birds displaying their beauty and dynamism to impress potential mates. This painting captures the essence of courtship rituals, where both birds and humans showcase their best attributes to attract attention and admiration. It emphasises the performative aspect of finding a mate, filled with vibrant displays and gestures.
- The Result
"The Result" illustrates the culmination of courtship with the creation of new life. The small beaks at the bottom represent chicks, emphasising the ultimate goal of mating rituals in nature and their human parallels. The painting highlights the success of the courtship process and the continuation of life.
- Gilded Cage
"Gilded Cage" portrays a bird in a humanoid shape contemplating freedom and confinement within the context of relationships. The open cage symbolises a comfortable yet limiting situation, reflecting the choices individuals face in relationships—whether to stay within the comfort zone or venture into the unknown. This piece connects to the series by examining the outcomes and decisions that follow successful courtship. Birds go through a complete cycle with the same mate within a 'gilded cage' of commitment, raising chicks and living within the comfort of a stable relationship and then go for the same cycle or seek new mates to begin a new cycle of courtship, representing the idea of freedom and exploration beyond the initial relationship.
These cycles are represented by the painting numbers in the infinity symbol - this dance has been danced forever.
About 90% of bird species are known to form pair bonds during the breeding season, but only a minority of these stay with the same mate throughout their life. The percentage of bird species that are truly monogamous, staying with the same mate for life, is estimated to be around less than 10%. This includes species like swans, albatrosses, and some penguins, which are known for their long-term pair bonds.
While many bird species may form a new pair bond each breeding season or stay together for a few seasons, lifelong monogamy is relatively rare in the bird world.
Lifelong Monogamy with humans: Combining married individuals who stay together for life (around 50-60% of those who marry) with those who cohabit long-term but never marry, we can estimate that approximately 30-40% of the entire adult population could experience some form of lifelong monogamy.
