'From here to ear' - Installation by Celeste Boursier-Mougenot

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Sat 18 Feb 2017 - Mon 17 Apr 2017

How would you feel going to an exhibit which uses live birds as part of an artwork? Yes, complicated isn't it, because something inside you says maybe this is not right or should not be encouraged. I went with some reluctance but when you have questions in your mind, the best thing to do is to go and have those questions answered. So I went along to an exhibit at GOMA on the third floor by Celeste Boursier Mougenot who trained as a musician and whose purpose when creating this artwork which is called from "Here to Ear" is to enable all those who come to see it to experience the delight of birds making music. That is it in a nutshell. I am sure both GOMA and the artist have used fancier words and longer sentences to describe what is in front of you.



It is intriguing, beautiful and fun and the people who look after the birds there assure us that the birds are well looked after and every care has been taken about their welfare.



Finches, if you don't know are particularly colourful birds, certainly the males. Sadly the females are a little less colourful but appealing nevertheless.



What you see in front of you are five structures made of wood and from the top hang a large number of interconnecting coat hangers, feeding trays and watering bowls as well as piano tuning pins and blades of grass. Sounds strange - well it is, and you have probably never seen anything like it. Birds, live ones, fly around you and have baths, feed, have naps and walk along the sandy floor.

Intermittently the movement of the birds causes parts of the structure to move and tinkle. This is where you can walk around and experience both the sensation of looking at the birds and listening to their song, which makes the experience more present, more lived, more relevant.



Do go along and view this exhibit. It is totally engaging. Then write and tell me if you felt comfortable seeing it, were upset that the birds were kept there, or experienced what the artist had hoped you would see and hear.

#art
#brisbane_city
#exhibitions
#south_bank
#february
#march
!date 18/02/2017 -- 17/04/2017
%wnbrisbane