An exquisite exhibition in East London is shining the spotlight on South Africa’s only endemic parrot—the green and gold feathered treasure, our Cape Parrot! Today is World Parrot Day, the perfect time to pop in:
East London, South Africa (31 May 2024) — The East London Museum has put forward an exquisite exhibition honouring green and gold feathered South Africans—the Cape Parrot!
‘Cape Parrot—Our Green and Gold Feathered Treasure’ is both a visually captivating display and an important message at once; underpinned by the bitter-sweetness that encompasses the bird’s beauty and struggle.
As the only South African parrot, the Cape Parrot (Poicephalus robustus) should be at the heart of more conservation efforts. Instead, it currently lives as an endangered species.
But, champions of the bird’s conservation like the Cape Parrot Project team and those spreading strong conservation messages like the East London Museum are hoping to change the Cape Parrot’s plight.
“The gallery was designed to transport the visitor into a magical forest sensation which emulates the vocal, charismatic, species and its habitat; the Afromontane mist-belt forests. Audio-visuals are used, including a real-life audio recording of one of the parrot’s forests in Hogsback,” shares Exhibition Designer Louanne Kirton, explaining what went into bringing the forest to life.
“1500 craft parrots hang in the gallery to convey the estimated number of parrots in the wild. The crafted parrots were designed to use recycled, crushed glass to portray the fragile, yet strong, beauty of the ‘gems’ that the Cape parrots are. The recycled glass speaks to the sustainability and conservation message.
“The community was involved in practical craft workshops to create unique, hand-made parrots. Some people took up to 6 hours to craft one parrot and I believe all this work infused love into the hearts of the creators of the pieces, the planet and the parrots,” Louanne adds.
Printed artworks created by international designers adorn the walls thanks to the Louanne who commissoned and collaborated with them, as well as collaging the 37 digitally supplied artworks to fit perfectly as into the exhibition’s breathtaking puzzle.
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There is also a large papier mâché Yellowood tree (an important tree that our green and gold friends use for feeding and breeding) that looks as if it is shooting through the ceiling. Not to mention the streams and waterfalls that reflect in the artwork and glass—all of which play a role in transporting visitors from their own world’s into an ideal one for the Cape Parrot.
All of this was made possible from around 500 people thanks to the museum team, community groups, schools and of course, the artists. The Cape Parrot Project also helped with the imperative scientific input for some of the display items.
The exhibition can be visited on 319 Oxford Street in East London, and you can support the Cape Parrot Project here.
Sources: Supplied—Louanne Kirton
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