Reference to birds and their symbolism in poetry and prose has been known to us since the time of ancient inscriptions, myths and legends, while their song, flight and symbolism have been an endless source of inspiration to artists, to this day. By combining their deepest meanings with the related symbolism of the number 12, a Croatian musician Darko Rundek, displayed the process of bonding the bodily and the spiritual, i.e., the path to enlightenment, in his timeless song "12 birds". All motifs used in the song match the symbolism of the song’s title, bringing in the meanings of eternal being, spiritual growth and awakening, as well the symbolism of freedom, endless possibilities of the mind, the soul and the connection between heavens and earth. Inspired by Rundek’s song, this thesis aims at presenting the deep symbolism of birds through a textile installation.
Material realisation of the idea, and the concept itself, in the form of a textile installation led to the creation of the installation »12 birds« as a visual presentation of the symbolism of birds in literature. Its form and elements present energy, consciousness and enlightenment. It presents a process, active engagement and a journey – from body to spirit/soul, from earth to heavens, from the physical to the mental/imaginary, from the earthly and material to the spiritual, from the visible to the invisible, from the tangible to the intangible. This installation comprises a spiral setting of origami birds, whose plumage pattern on the body gradually recedes. The process of receding symbolizes distancing from the earthly and moving closer to the higher levels of consciousness, the heavens and enlightenment. At the very top, a hologram on a circular surface shows simultaneous presence of something material and something intangible. It shows energy, with a desire to distribute it across the consciousness of the observerand send a central message of taking action – only by working on ourselves do we contribute to this world being a more harmonic, happier place, with more freedom.
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