Of Cages and Feathers
Of Cages and Feathers is a conceptual photography series comprised of several interconnected chapters, presented as a photobook (Kehrer Verlag, 2024). The work focuses on birds—specifically parrots—that reside in the artist’s sanctuary for rescued animals. Many of these species were originally captured in Australia by European colonists and have lived in captivity for generations.
Within the series, the birds are photographed in artificial, often geometric environments that reflect human notions of order, control, and aesthetics. The sets are physically constructed—not digitally created—and the birds move freely within them. Through this interplay of real animals and constructed space, the series explores how themes of freedom, confinement, vulnerability, and the desire for connection resonate across species. The birds become symbolic reflections of ourselves, caught between instinct and structure, care and control.
