The magnificent bird of paradise has many different specifications that distinguish the bird from other birds. For example, he has a neon green chest that he shows to attract other females for mating and to make himself look attractive. Also, he is a male and I am a female.
In a study of 'magnificent' there are many. You have magnificent in: fashion, society, film, development (of the species of birds), in the color green, in plants, and in how the bird is seen in society.
To specify the relationship between the bird and me, I looked at all the details that were similar and different. For example, in this research I tried to dress up as him. By examining the bird's chest and recreating it. First literally using fabric from soft feathers and turning them into new fabric. Or painting canvas until I found the exact color combination. Try try try. And that's how I ended up weaving.
I tried to intertwine myself with the bird until we became one. Literally weaving fabric, weaving multiple materials on different fabrics together so that the resulting texture ultimately gives a realistic feeling. Not only in appearance but also in atmosphere.
This project was quite complicated to be honest, I spent a lot of time thinking about what exactly I wanted to make instead of thinking about how I describe my process here. I wanted to know too much about what the end product must look like and that caused me to lose the value I had built up in it. This project of mine is a learning process. I made bags, pieces of woven fabric, took many photos in the process, but for me no concrete image emerged, so when I think back about this project, it remains difficult for me to describe what exactly I was doing. Except I was making a lot of work.
Ultimately, the process was the work. An edification about the bird, its development and in mirror image with me. A process that remained difficult to connect for me and therefore found no logical way to come together. I turned it into a book that could be connected in a harmonious way. As a result, this work always has two sides and you can choose what to open and what not.