BIRD : EXPLORING THE WINGED WORLD presents a remarkable survey of the avian kingdom, celebrating the beauty and popular appeal of birds throughout art, history, ornithology and culture. Featuring more than 300 spectacular images, from richly painted medieval manuscripts to incredible high-speed photography, this book reveals how artists, illustrators, scientists and photographers – from the ancient world to the present – have captured birds’ likeness, character and symbolism.
The selection of works presented in Bird was made in consultation with an international panel of artists, art historians, ornithologists, conservationists and photographers, among them: Katrina van Grouw, illustrator, author and fine artist, Alex Bond, curator of the bird collection at the Natural History Museum (UK), David Lindo, the popular author and birdwatcher known as the ‘Urban Birder’, Sabine Meyer, Photography Director for the National Audubon Society (US), Jen Lobo, 2020 Bartels Illustrator at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Sylke Frahnert, Curator of the Birds collection at the Museum für Naturkunde (Berlin).
Artists and creators featured range from the renowned to the unexpected and across all periods from ancient Egypt to the modern day, including John James Audubon, Banksy, Margaret Bourke-White, Albrecht Dürer, Tracey Emin, Peter Carl Fabergé, Ernst Haeckel, Charley Harper, Hokusai, Frida Kahlo, René Magritte, Ustad Mansur, Maria Sybilla Merian, Frans Snyders and Sarah Stone. As an example, the book includes an extraordinarily detailed painting of a roller’s wing by Albrecht Dürer with a colourful 19th century encyclopaedia plate by Adolphe Millot that bursts with colourful plumes.
The book showcases interesting and revealing juxtapositions from over 90 artists, 50 photographers, 15 illustrators and 10 fashion designers. Each entry features a sumptuous large-format image, accompanied by a short and accessible text. A reference section with information on bird identification, spotting and classification, a glossary, an illustrated timeline and select biographies are also included. The book’s introduction is written by consultant editor Katrina van Grouw, a respected British ornithologist, artist, author and expert in bird anatomy.
Over the course of the pandemic, there has been a resurgence in the popularity of bird watching. With this book, readers need not go further than the pages within to marvel at the birds of the skies, lands and seas, and learn more about nesting, feeding and migration, as well as humanity’s impact on their habitats and conservation. Whether a professional ornithologist or amateur bird watcher, everyone will find a unique joy in this stunning celebration of the avian world.
Title: Bird: Exploring the Winged World
Author: Phaidon Editors with an introduction by Katrina van Grouw
Publication date: 7 October 2021
Price: AUD $79.95
Binding: Hardback
Extent: 352 pages
Illustrations: 280 colour
Size: 290mm x 250mm
ISBN: 978 1 8386 6140 3
Pre-order: phaidon.com
ABOUT PHAIDON
Phaidon, a global publisher, works with the world’s most influential artists, chefs, writers, and thinkers to produce innovative books on art, photography, design, architecture, fashion, food and travel, and illustrated books for children. Phaidon is headquartered in London and New York City.