Conference of the Birds: Becoming Divine

2018

 

This series was inspired by  the 12th century Persian poem by Attar, “Conference of the Birds,” which is an allegory about the human search for enlightenment.  In the poem, all the birds of the world are called together by a spiritual master, the Hoopoe bird, who takes them on an arduous journey to meet their King.  In the end, most of the birds fail to complete the journey, because of their own internal obstacles.  Only 30 birds are able to confront their own failings, persevere through hardships and come face to face with the Divine.  The series consists of small bird like sculptures which represent those 30 birds.