The second part looked at the obsession with egg collecting and the destruction that this has caused to many species of bird. Throughout the exhibition a narrative is woven that tells the story of the artists; a father and son and their collective interest in ornithology that has continued throughout their relationship. The father is a renowned authority on bird behaviour and the son an artist who has used his skills to pull a visually creative collection of elements together. The gallery space is interspersed with a variety of nests, replicated eggs, photographs, drawings and video screens that alludes to the symbiotic relationship between birds, man's appreciation of their beauty and an obsessive desire to own and ultimately destroy that which is desired. The exhibition is a fascinating insight into man's interaction with nature and the learning and damage that can lead to.
This was a fascinating exhibition and visually very well put together. Thinking ahead to my own exhibition I do wonder about placing my props from my photographs somewhere in the gallery space. Having sculptural objects on view certainly does enhance the gallery experience and breaks up the repetitive nature of just prints hanging on a wall. The props were not intended to be seen this way but I do need to consider this element of my practise. The downside to this is that I do not want the viewer to become too engaged with my working practice because the danger would be that my message becomes diluted and it is very important for this particular project for that not to happen.
Natural Selection - Andy Holden & Peter Holden
