Colour Coded Birds
Interpreting Ornithology through Contemporary Art
12 November 2022 - 12 March 2023
Artist Lucy Stevens presents a new body of work, reinterpreting Leicester Museums' natural science collection. Within the exhibition, Lucy explores creative methods for cataloguing British bird skin specimens.
Visitors can expect to see a diverse collection of bird specimens grouped together by colour alongside contemporary artworks. The bird skin collection inspired Lucy to create new 2D and 3D artworks that use intense colour combinations. Artworks included within the exhibition combine photography of the bird skins on display with Lucy’s signature instinctive mark marking. As well as colourful abstract wooden sculptures, holding bird eggs from the museum’s collection, which interpret ornithological data.
Bird behaviour, habitat, vocalisation and conservation status are all areas of interest within Lucy’s art practice. She often includes symbols and gestures to interpret research about bird conservation using different shapes, lines and colour palettes. As a starting point, Lucy concentrated on colour systems used within The Highway Code and Weather symbols to influence her. Reinterpreting cataloguing information about Leicester Museum's collection. Challenging traditional narratives on how these specimens are viewed and showing their value to conservation, education and the arts.
Lucy Stevens talking about her new art exhibition ‘Colour Coded Birds’ at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery.
Lucy Stevens explaining how the natural science collection has inspired her to create new works of contemporary art.
Listen to conversations about my art practice and plans for a solo show at Leicester Museum with
Rob Watson from the Distraction Therapy Podcast.