Variation of Orders

My current favourite song 'Variation of Birds' has what I feel to be beautiful lyrics about the characteristic of our feathered friends as the name suggests. Though the song is not particularly easy to listen to for some people, I think this YouTube user summarized the feel of it very accurately!

'This is absolute genius. First birds sang, and man imitated. Then man built instruments to sing with him. Then, man built a synthesizer to make music without him. Then, the synthesizer built bird song. It isn't just bodies that evolve. When I listen to this album, I can see the evolution of art.'

So that there are three sorts of birds which use their wings
for more purposes than flying
the steamer as paddles the penguin as fins
and the ostrich spreads its plumes like sails to the breeze.

When I really think about the amount and variation of differences between the classes, orders, species and even sub species of animals it actually blows my mind a little. Adaptable to mother nature and in some cases so specifically so that they could not survive anywherelse on Earth, the more I learn the more humbled I am by such an abundance of life. I think some of these differences between creatures, such as Ungulates and the order of Carnivora, is really brought forward when there are no other distractions. In the work of Sharon Montrose, the photograph is simply the animal and nothing more, bringing out the individuality of this living thing and when compared to other photos from the collection turns into a study of the variation I mentioned before. Not only this but stripping the animals of their natural surroundings, or of any surroundings at all really, highlights a sense of emotive innocence but also a sense of no defence as though they are dependent on this manmade world they've been placed in. Feathers, flippers, beaks, stripes, pouches, claws, antlers, scales and fur, I find it so necessary not only to my work as an artist but also a necessity to human life.

Ö

I know I recently posted about Björk but after stumbling across some interesting fashion collages by Jean Paul Goude, that reminded me of a simpler (but still as striking) Lola Dupré style, I decided to unearth some of the old photos stored in my inspiration folders - I knew I'd use them eventually! Björk has always been a particular inspiration to me and I hope she continues to be, with recent collaborators such as David Attenborough I really don't think there will be a problem!

Mela

On the weekend, the Southampton Mela Festival took place acting as a promotion for South Asian arts, music and food. Art Asia are the founders of the event and they're now in their thirtieth year having also taken part in the EjectorSeat Arts festival, that I've mentioned before. There was much to see and do but unfortunately I didn't arrive until the afternoon and the weather put me off staying more than a couple of hours, though I enjoyed some great live music, performances and curry in between the showers!

Unrelated to this post but definitely to the last, below are two photos to show how big the mountboard skull is in comparison to a person! On sunday I went with a few friends to Netley Abbey and definitely want to return soon for a photoshoot as I'm pretty sure the demonic mask, in contrast with the angelic headdress I have in mind for the second person to wear, will work well in the ruins of the Abbey.  

Images by KLV

Aardvarks and Armadillos

Though this post is very much delayed, thanks to locking myself out of my flat for two days(!!), I have decided to intertwine my research of animal symbolism into my blog and will post what I've found alphabetically to refer to in future projects.

Since the aardvark is such a wide spread creature, there is a degree of variation in the symbolism found for example the snout of an aardvark acted (perhaps still acts) as a phallic symbol in pre-colonial Africa, which according to ‘The Continuum encyclopedia of animal symbolism in art’ resulted in the creature having it removed by Tabwa (Congo) men in order to stop any embarrassment in front of the women. On an even more serious note, cutting Aardvark snouts and genitals is also intended to preserve and empower male superiority. However in Mali, the Bamana create masks and headdresses, named Chi Wara, intended for agricultural ceremonies and the aardvark as a symbol of agriculture and viewed as a ‘human animal’ for its digging behaviour is featured in the designs. By imitating animals such as aardvarks and pangolins, it is hoped that you will learn the secrets of the earth which in Bamana life is viewed as female. This ties in with the phallic snout of the aardvark as the act of cultivation is viewed as sexual by the Bamana and as their territory is in the dry central landscape of Mali, I would assume the aardvark is held in high regard. This animal reaches as far north as Egypt in traditional symbolism as the god Set is said by many to have the head and other qualities of an aardvark, acting as the god of deserts and darkness seems appropriate for this usually nocturnal creature.

Chi Wara general headdress (left), Chi Wara headdress with aardvark at the bottom (right)

Egyptian god 'Set'

From the continent of Africa to the Americas and the origin of the armadillo and much like the aardvark, the armadillo or Azotochtli (turtle-rabbit) is also synonymous with the earth and agriculture however this goes further with it also being associated with the afterlife. This is due to being a ground dwelling creature but also the nine bands of the nine banded (most populous) armadillos ’shell’ represent the levels of the underworld in Mesoamerica, evidence of this symbolism can be found in Mayan pottery. This link to the afterlife is furthered by the apparent grave digging service that was provided by armadillos in South American myth. For a creature that makes little noise, it was a surprise to learn it had such a connotation with music. In particular the Mayans depicted armadillos anthropomorphically as drummers, beating on jaguar skins and usually accompanied by other creatures. There is also the literal transformation of armadillos into musical instruments and as you can see by some of the images below there is a wide variety.

 

The modern depiction of the armadillo strays away from the musical and more towards the obvious aspect of its defence mechanism. From kitchenware to architecture, designers have mimicked the 'armor plating' of this creature.

Armadillo chair by Aodh O Donnell

wheredidyoubuythat.com

1950s Maya style armadillo bracelet - Decotini

Lisa Maione - 'Architecture is to armadillo as'

Armadillo Shoes - Alexander McQueen

1940s Armadillo bag - Etsy