Migratory Birds

by Redilion

"We should see migration as a natural and positive process, not necessarily as a threat"
— Katherina Kratzmann, migration and refugee expert, 2016

This painting series is dedicated to migratory bird species - those that travel immense distances and now face growing threats from climate change and illegal hunting. These birds, navigating continents, embody a quiet resilience, yet many teeter on the edge of endangerment.Between the wings of these fragile creatures are the stories of people - those who risk everything to feed themselves and their families. This parallel between forced migration in the animal world and among humans forms the core of my work.The series explores this theme through a visual shift: I move away from detailed backgrounds toward abstraction, allowing the birds to emerge prominently while the vast geographies they cross-countries, borders, continents - fade into symbolic space. This stylistic change emphasizes both movement and fragility. Yet, while working on this series, the full-scale war in Ukraine erupted, forcing even more people, including many close to me, to flee.As a Ukrainian, I am feeling deeply affected. The presented pieces in the series reflect this personal grief and attempt to process the loss, dislocation, and emotional turbulence of forced displacement.This is not just a story about birds. It is about survival, fragility, and the universal need for safety -be it on wings or foot.