A Love Made Out Of Thin Air
Even though they occupied different dimensions of air space, occasionally they ventured into each other’s domain so they knew of each other.
Theirs was an unexpected pairing as it was not customary for fairies and birds to take to each other romantically. Many flying beings could communicate through the vibrations of their wings but fairies had a higher, finer sounding hum that most birds could not decipher. But the forces of nature conspired to make her different.
Her name was KARINA and his OASIS. Their love was spiritual and left rainbows in its wake. Mother Nature approved and the animals felt at peace around them. Other birds and fairies were curious at first but after a while their winged families began to understand.
When time came for Karina to fly south, Oasis wished to accompany her. It was an extraordinary undertaking because they flew in fairy styles and bird styles. Luckily Oasis was good with his hands and a clever inventor. Karina collected the necessary materials and they went to work.
He created for them a wing speed synchronizer. It calibrated the etheric and physical dimensions perfectly. This contraption monitored their individual wing speeds and heart beats to ensure harmony between them. It was a revolutionary invention that was bound to help the spirit of creatures from both realms connect more often.
She inspired this in him. Their love heralded a new wave of love affairs amongst the winged community.
It was 2015 and I was staying at a hotel in Cartagena, Colombia. Its high terrace was lined by large stone eagle sculptures looking out to the surrounding landscape of urban sprawl, a port and mountains in the distance. I remember being inspired by their silent, majestic and dignified presence in the face of less elegant surroundings. They felt otherworldly, as if somewhere on another plain they were alive and vital.
This inspired my short story which began with rough sketches and brief notes scrawled on a small travelling notebook; one of many I carried with me during my year in South America. While I was travelling I had made a habit of noting down ideas, some that I followed through with later others that I didn’t, but this helped me put another layer of meaning to my travels.
You see, when I set out to go to South America I wasn’t interested in site seeing and had no goals or schedule. I had strictly carry-on luggage, and a mantra of ‘art-music-dance’ without overthinking what that meant exactly. When I was back in Melbourne and eventually established a new studio I created my Bird Woman and Fairy Man sculptures ( you can see them in detail by following the links)
It’s funny how sometimes the most subtle and seemingly unimportant objects or experiences can be the ones that spark off an idea and inspire. I’m reminded of a parallel statement made by Yalom a famous psychotherapist. He said that once an old client of his had stopped him in the street to thank him for helping them. He then found out that it was a simple gesture of kindness unrelated to the deep insights and techniques he had used as a therapist that left an impression on this person.
Maybe a bit unrelated but nonetheless, it comes to mind. Perhaps it’s that inspiration can also come from catching a tiny thread that moves you regardless of the context. You then have the opportunity if you wish to transform it into something new and give it your own beauty. That is what I think I did with the Eagles on the terrace.
Starlight Reunion
2011, 86x 86cm
Space Dancers
2011, 60x 45cm
Miracle 2: To Know
2011, 35x 25cm
