Birds Play Electric Guitars

12.04.2010

This exhibition by Céleste Boursier-Mougenot at the Barbican doesn’t sound too exciting but is, in fact, quite mesmerising.

Small birds flit around the gallery space and perch on various instruments: electric guitars and cymbals filled with grain – the sounds created by the ensuing movements on the guitar strings are emitted from nearby amplifiers. The gentle cheeping of the birds and random murmurs from the guitars intermingle to create a calming, constantly changing, sound. The finches are beautiful, some white, some brown with black and white striped tails and both with bright orange beaks. The floor of the gallery is covered with wooden planks dotted with sandy areas which are planted with grasses; the birds have nesting boxes although some prefer to make themselves at home on the fire exit sign, busily fetching grasses to construct something comfortable.

A hit on YouTube apparently, but actually you need to go there: it’s about the serenity of the space, sound and activity, not about guitar-playing circus birds. If only there had been a bench, I could have stayed all afternoon.

Céleste Boursier-Mougenot

The Curve, Barbican Art Gallery 27 February- 23 May 2010