Thursday 14 February 2013

The Messengers

Hello everyone

I thought you might like to learn something about the incredibly striking installation by Czech multi-media artist, Marcela Trsova, which is currently wowing visitors to the new exhibition, 'In the Company of Birds'.  

Made of  coated copper wire and real feathers, Marcela has painstakingly created her own birds in flight which, hanging from the ceiling, gently sway with the drafts in the gallery.  With a solitary Jay in the middle, surrounded by Magpies and Crows, the result is quite stunning - calming, thought- provoking and menacing all at the same time.














Here's what Marcela has to say about them:

"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 blue sky indicated a 'double vision', or double clarity.  This visual and spiritual 'blue on blue' concept speaks of purity of the soul, truth of the heart, and clarity of the soul."

I always like and admire the research and thought that goes into all Marcela Trsova's creations, and we must also thank her for the dedication she has to her craft.  Here she is, at close to midnight, putting the final touches to The Messengers.














Speak soon.

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