Birds and Language, curated by Madeleine Kelly
Exhibition: 20 November 2021 – 13 February 2022
Wollongong City Gallery, NSW.
Birds and Language was an exhibition that drew upon works by highly significant Australian artists as well as art from the Wollongong City Gallery (WCG) collection. The works are speculative; they suggest a radically different approach to understanding and presenting the colours, forms, sounds and behaviours of birds and reimagining humanity’s relationship with non-human life.
The exhibition was accompanied by 15-page colour catalogue (print) and my 2800-word critical essay and complemented by substantive multidisciplinary projects: A two-day conference, an online curated exhibition of artists (19—20 August, 2021) and ‘Special Events’ at the Wollongong City Gallery (13 February). From bird dancing and acoustic rhythms to threatened birdsong and languages, birds were considered from important new horizons and perspectives.
Artists: Glenn Barkley, Barbara Campbell, Fernando do Campo, Eugene Carchesio, Ashley Eriksmoen, Emily Floyd, Liam Garstang, Danie Mellor, NOT, Bilinyarra Nabegeyo, Djawida Nadjongorle, Raquel Ormella, Debra Porch, Marie Celine Porkalari, Joan Ross, Laurens Tan, Hollis Taylor, John Tonkin, Jenny Watson, Louise Weaver and John Wolseley