Venetian Birds
Perspective:
Domed cathedrals, clock towers and spires, set across the haze of an impressive skyline. A hulking pier post made of chamfered poles rises and strikes into the frame. Atop, a playful pair of birds offset the grandeur and weightiness of the scene by pulling the focus away from the obvious, and setting your eye free into sublime airiness.
How is it that these two little birds can have such an effect? It’s because the sky is their world and their nature defies gravity—they are the ambassadors of it: that broad panorama that humbles us from above, tastefully adorned with vaporous clouds and deeply coloured at sunrise and sunset. That vast expanse that is a dramatic counterpoint to the hodgepodge, clutter and chaos we spread across our land-based artificial spaces.
Analysis:
The composition is somewhat free formed, loosely following the rule of thirds. Relying primarily on the interplay of other meaningful structure, specifically that of the sky, which appears subordinate but is ultimately the message.
The pier post is undoubtedly predominating and weighty, creating a heavy foundation to the rest of the scene. It is also a directional element, pointing upward, drawing attention towards the open sky. Once the eye is directed into this space, the slant of the clouds further accentuates a lofty and dynamic airiness, all underscored by the simple fact of ratio, in this case sky to ground. And so, we gain both contrast and harmony simultaneously, of which the poetry of the message follows.
The birds are carefree and indifferent to the worldly clutter below, apart from the hustle and clamour of a ground-based life. A life compartmentalized, governed and controlled. Roadways and waterways interconnecting purposed spaces, segmented by boundary and border, given over to process and progress.
Yet, they swoop, glide, flitter and play, in a wide-open world devoid of barrier and rules. They thrive in a world that naturally provides for them; a small twig and scrap of paper for a nest, a puddle of water to drink from, a diffusion of bugs in the marsh, and a scatter of seed and bread in the park.
And we look upon them admiringly, at their simple nature, their oneness with an environment perfectly suited for them, and they to it. And we are left with a balance to ponder.
The birds are carefree and indifferent to the worldly clutter below, apart from the hustle and clamour of a ground-based life. A life compartmentalized, governed and controlled. Roadways and waterways interconnecting purposed spaces, segmented by boundary and border, given over to process and progress.
Yet, they swoop, glide, flitter and play, in a wide-open world devoid of barrier and rules. They thrive in a world that naturally provides for them; a small twig and scrap of paper for a nest, a puddle of water to drink from, a diffusion of bugs in the marsh, and a scatter of seed and bread in the park.
And we look upon them admiringly, at their simple nature, their oneness with an environment perfectly suited for them, and they to it. And we are left with a balance to ponder.