// BLURB //
Birds-of-paradise, along with bowerbirds, shrikes, and honeyeaters are part of lineage Corvida. Structure determines function? Maybe. But if this is true, functions don’t always exhibit the same way. I don’t want to open old wounds about the nature of nature-versus-nurture, but even the Godliest among us must admit that environment matters, history matters, circumstances matter, especially when it comes to family. For example, male birds-of-paradise of sexually dimorphic species are world famous for their wild displays in efforts to secure the perfect (re: willing) mate. Some species go from bird-shaped to ballerina dancer in one breath; some wave their wings above their heads back and forth, distracting and hypnotizing their target females; others use their wings like a matador cape while dilating and contracting their pupils alternately with dizzying speed; still others puff their plumage in quite unimaginable ways, all for the sake of the big win. And bowerbirds—don’t get us started on bowerbirds! Much like the rich local Shanghainese, bowerbirds build brightly-colored luxury structures. And almost every single time, it works.
Birds-of-paradise, along with bowerbirds, shrikes, and honeyeaters are part of lineage Corvida. Structure determines function? Maybe. But if this is true, functions don’t always exhibit the same way. I don’t want to open old wounds about the nature of nature-versus-nurture, but even the Godliest among us must admit that environment matters, history matters, circumstances matter, especially when it comes to family. For example, male birds-of-paradise of sexually dimorphic species are world famous for their wild displays in efforts to secure the perfect (re: willing) mate. Some species go from bird-shaped to ballerina dancer in one breath; some wave their wings above their heads back and forth, distracting and hypnotizing their target females; others use their wings like a matador cape while dilating and contracting their pupils alternately with dizzying speed; still others puff their plumage in quite unimaginable ways, all for the sake of the big win. And bowerbirds—don’t get us started on bowerbirds! Much like the rich local Shanghainese, bowerbirds build brightly-colored luxury structures. And almost every single time, it works.
// EDITION, MEDIA, SIZE & WEIGHT //
Edition 4/8, Shanghai 2019
RGB LED display, one-way glass, teakwood frame
39(W)×39(H)×6(D) cm // 6 kg
// EXPOSURE //
“Perimeters, Edges, and Walls” at island6 Shanghai Main Space
Edition 4/8, Shanghai 2019
RGB LED display, one-way glass, teakwood frame
39(W)×39(H)×6(D) cm // 6 kg
// EXPOSURE //
“Perimeters, Edges, and Walls” at island6 Shanghai Main Space
// CREDITS //
Katrina Louy 卡萨琳娜 (performance) • Yeung Sin Ching 杨倩菁 (production supervisor) • Thomas Charvériat (animation) • Carlin Reinig (blurb)