ALCHEMICAL AVIARY

CUPAR ARTS FESTIVAL 2016


Climate Change investigation using Alchemical Birds as metaphor for ecological Transmutation.


Series of Murals, prints and multiples by David Faithfull, exploring this year's theme:

'LIMINAL' Tipping Point, transition, change of state

 

The original five phases of alchemical transformation

 

The Crow (the blackening):

Withdrawing from the external world to the darker inner world of the soul, through a process of combustion or carbonation through fire, the individual approaches metamorphosis, and through darkness seeks regeneration.

 

The Swan (the whitening): And then by fire and ash comes the false illumination in the pure spirit of the brilliant, blinding light of self-doubt, the inner world trapped on the surface between the etheric and the physical worlds.

 

The Peacock (the iridescence): Having witnessed that false dawn and hope’s annihilation, a kaleidoscope of confusion heralds the astral world and irradiated ego procreates and renunciation blossoms forth, the true beginning of transformation.

 

The Pelican (the distillation): Only through ultimate sacrifice does the ego transcend the physical body. Striking its contoured belly with the curved scimitar of its beak, the bird nourishes its prodigy and is thence consumed - transformation through, pain, trial and sacrifice.

 

The Phoenix (the sublimation): By eradication of self through sacrificial resignation, ultimate transcendence is complete and from the ashes of the pierced and charred corpse the spirit is ultimately resurrected in its enlightened purity and form.

 

The contemporary sixth phase

 

The Dotterel (The extinction): And countering this cycle of immortality, the bird pursued by the inevitability of climatic change, retreats further up its bleak mountain peak, forced into a tourniquet of ecological misfortune, it has no choice but to finally launch itself from the mountain top one last time, into eternal oblivion.

 

Global warming is regarded as a major threat to birds and other biodiversity. In particular, birds of montane habitats are especially susceptible to climate change impacts, as they have restricted opportunities to move to higher elevations to find suitable climate space. The Dotterel is one of several birds on the UK’s endangered species list. Through global warming its Cairngorm habitat has been irreversibly changed.

 

The DOTTEREL bird and landscape Alchemical imagery were positioned across Cupar for the Arts Festival on selected discreet and prominent locations, including Jordan's Night Club, the Council Chambers and Main Street closes.


CAF 2016 Artists involved:


Charles Avery

Kenny Bean

Jacqueline Bulnes

Juliana Capes

Owen Daily

Caroline Dear

Cynthia Dinan Mitchell

PierGiuseppe Di Tanno

Kate Downie

David Faithfull

Tim Fitzpatrick

Ilana Halperin

Mike Inglis

Juliette Losq

Chad McCail

Rachel Maclean

Maris

Anthony Schrag

Carolyn Scott

Jenny Smith

PRINT FESTIVAL SCOTLAND 2016