MESSENGERS, 2012
Flight has always represented freedom from the physical restrictions of earthbound life, and the ascent of the soul to the Gods - either through mystical experience or through death. Birds share something of the same symbolic meaning, but because they come from the skies they can also assume the role of messengers from higher powers, whether for good or for ill.
In Kabbalah, Renaissance magic, and in alchemy, the language of the birds was considered a secret, perfect language, and the key to perfect knowledge. In many cultures across the world, the language of birds is the mystical language of angels and interestingly, the English word 'angel' comes from the biblical Greek word 'angelos', which means messengers - the messengers of the truth.
In mythology and superstition, crows and magpies have always been associated with bad omens, bad luck, or as the messengers of death. This may be because of the colour of their feathers - black - and their nature (feeding on carrion). THE JAY however, although from the same family (corvids), symbolises truth, fairness and solidarity. In the spiritual realm, the jay speaks of clarity and vision.
In Native American culture, the azure of the Jay set against the the blue sky indicated a 'double vision' or double clarity. Tha visual and spiritual 'blue on blue' concept speaks of purity of spirit, truth of the heart and clarity of the soul.
The Messengers is an installation of 7 birds consisting of 4 crows, 2 magpies and 1 Jay.
Materials - coated copper wire, crow, macpie and jay feathers, star diopside stone, labradorite stone and Rainbow moonstone
In Kabbalah, Renaissance magic, and in alchemy, the language of the birds was considered a secret, perfect language, and the key to perfect knowledge. In many cultures across the world, the language of birds is the mystical language of angels and interestingly, the English word 'angel' comes from the biblical Greek word 'angelos', which means messengers - the messengers of the truth.
In mythology and superstition, crows and magpies have always been associated with bad omens, bad luck, or as the messengers of death. This may be because of the colour of their feathers - black - and their nature (feeding on carrion). THE JAY however, although from the same family (corvids), symbolises truth, fairness and solidarity. In the spiritual realm, the jay speaks of clarity and vision.
In Native American culture, the azure of the Jay set against the the blue sky indicated a 'double vision' or double clarity. Tha visual and spiritual 'blue on blue' concept speaks of purity of spirit, truth of the heart and clarity of the soul.
The Messengers is an installation of 7 birds consisting of 4 crows, 2 magpies and 1 Jay.
Materials - coated copper wire, crow, macpie and jay feathers, star diopside stone, labradorite stone and Rainbow moonstone
