Things are coming along nicely for my new show, Becoming Otherwise. I am madly working on a new series of birds, birds nests, drawings and photographs for this show. Not sure exactly what will end up in the show yet, but I like to work on a whole bunch of things for each series and decide closer to the time.
Here is a sneaky peak of some birds waiting for their transformation…
The before shot
This new series of works is a continuation from Creaturely Wonders, however with more refined ideas about adaptation and transformation. Here is a description of what to expect…
Strange and marvelous things, flushed beaks, flamboyant plumes and elaborate displays. Karley Feaver’s exhibition, Becoming Otherwise, transports you into a world of exotic creatures filled with odd familiarities and strangeness.
Through the ages people have made beautiful things for themselves and others by using materials from their nearby environment. Birds are known to do the same, especially when seeking to attract a mate. Feaver’s new works bring the image of beauty almost to the edge of absurdity, their appearance is both bizarre and extraordinary, unlike any other creature on earth.
While exploring the idea of transformation and adornment, Feaver’s current interests rest in nature’s ability to survive in different forms by adapting, adjusting and mutating into an increasingly man-made environment.
Human hair is a common feature in Feaver’s new works. For some, hair has no fixed meaning but for others it has powerful meanings and can retain the aura and energy of its owner. It also has great social significance, as does a birds plume or an animal’s coat. It is an indication of status and an artifact of the soul.
“I am interested in the scientific, intellectual and aesthetic reasons behind the re-creation of the animal. I am exploring how each one could exist in a domestic setting by adapting to their surroundings. Through this, my investigations of the animals have developed by morphing animals and other various objects into newly formed creations”.
Before Shot
People people have said to me “how does someone like you come up with ideas like these?” And by that they mean that I look “innocent” (I know this because they have explained themselves…haha). I guess my ideas can be a bit bizarre and surreal and maybe a little morbid. My imagination is always going (it never stops) and I experiment a lot with my materials. I often think up ideas, write them down then execute. However when it comes to executing the pieces in 3D form, they don’t always work out as I imagined them to. I would say only about 20% of the ideas in my head actually end up working. So there’s a lot of experimentation and learning…which is the fun part.
And something you may not know about my process, I hardly ever draw images of my ideas. I use words. I write a description of what I am thinking, I might draw a little doodle, but generally I only use words. I really wish there was an invention where you could take a photograph of the image in your head, it would make things a lot easier.
Thanks again for reading.
