Avialae (鳥翼)
5.5m x 7.5m x 5.5m
New and drift bamboo, steel wire, sisal rope, solar LEDs, as well as wild and cultivated plants.
5.5m x 7.5m x 5.5m
New and drift bamboo, steel wire, sisal rope, solar LEDs, as well as wild and cultivated plants.
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Avialae explores available materials as well as the local landscape through the production of a semi-permanent and site-specific installation as an example of post-Anthropocene architecture. The work presents a large resting area for local birds, while also acting as an attraction for and commingling space for a variety of other species, including humans. Working similarly to structures constructed for human use, the one designed for and constructed in Chenglong(成龍) attempts to maximize the number of avifauna that can occupy a minimal footprint, while also creating a space that is functional for growing plants and educational purposes.
Avialae is meant to grow and develop over time. It is able to withstand high winds because of its minimal surface area while using a combination of vertical, horizontal and diagonal hexagonal supports to create an efficient but rigid structure. The work’s design utilizes primarily natural materials in conjunction with native wild flora -- located in the installation’s central garden area and growing on its vertical supports — as well as solar powered LED lighting, to illuminate the structure at night. The garden area of the installation utilizes local wild plants; chosen for their phytoremediative qualities, ability to tolerate and reduce the effects of rising sea levels, as well as their edibility and use as nesting materials. All of the installation’s elements work together to create a microecosystem. As more and more birds occupy the installation, the work’s central garden will change to accommodate new species of flora that the birds eat, thereby giving incentive for more birds to visit the structure as the garden develops. The installation’s condensed space for local flora and avifauna also present educational opportunities for learning about the area’s avian species through casual observation as well as more serious examination. Both the physical and theoretical methodologies of Avialae function as modes of artistic research, searching for ways in which natural entities and human interventions can work together in order to create symbiotic relationships. This project focuses on birds because of their ability to indicate the health of the surrounding environment, because they are often pest-predators, they propagate plants and enrich the lives of humans in their vicinity. The installation acts as an experiment in, as well as an example of, how architectural spaces constructed for the benefit of other species can equally benefit humans. |
Avialae was designed and constructed for the ChengLong Village.
The work was installed during half of April and May 2021 in ChengLong, Yunlin, Taiwan.
The work was installed during half of April and May 2021 in ChengLong, Yunlin, Taiwan.
