Avian Ambassadors
National birds are important symbols for a nation. These birds are often carefully selected because they represent something notable about the country itself.
They may be part of the nation's history or culture, an endemic species found nowhere else or representative of qualities the nation values, such as strength, bravery and elegance. Some birds are selected for their stunning beauty, others for their melodious voices. Still others may be ritualistic generalizations of birds rather than individual species.
They may be part of the nation's history or culture, an endemic species found nowhere else or representative of qualities the nation values, such as strength, bravery and elegance. Some birds are selected for their stunning beauty, others for their melodious voices. Still others may be ritualistic generalizations of birds rather than individual species.
In this installation I have used national birds from each country at the 43rd G7 summit, along with outsider Vladimir Putin, to represent world leaders. This highlights the dynamic power struggle between them. This was demonstrated when the world leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the 2015 Paris Agreement, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, one leader did not agree. The USA president Donald Trump has since pulled out of the Paris Agreement saying “The Paris accord will undermine (the U.S.) economy," and "puts (the U.S.) at a permanent disadvantage.”
This decision is alarming. If there is a lack of consideration for climate change from a major player such as the USA, then we humans will continue compromising our own habitat. The impacts threaten our continued existence by affecting the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe and the weather we experience; a mass extinction that will affect not only us but a vast majority of mammals and many other species on this planet.
This decision is alarming. If there is a lack of consideration for climate change from a major player such as the USA, then we humans will continue compromising our own habitat. The impacts threaten our continued existence by affecting the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe and the weather we experience; a mass extinction that will affect not only us but a vast majority of mammals and many other species on this planet.