All the birds have flown away - Lost
In this fog, my world shrinks to the size of my own body. Every movement is tentative, every step a step into the unknown. The deafening ...
Ivan in Abstracts
The project “All the birds have flown away” explores the emotional journey of the protagonist, who symbolically steps out of the comfortable darkness of her ignorance into the glaring reality of knowledge and responsibility. The story is a metaphor for the human need for freedom and self-determination, but also the fear of what this freedom entails – the confrontation with the world as it really is. The cage, which was originally perceived as a prison, turns out to be a protective wall that shielded the protagonist from the unpleasantness of reality. However, the escape from this cage reveals not only beauty and light, but also the destruction and suffering that are part of our modern world. The unstoppable progress of humanity on a self-destructive path raises questions about the responsibility of the individual. The protagonist longs for the safety of the old cage, but there is no way back to ignorance. The realization is irreversible and the burden of responsibility weighs heavily on her.
The main aim of this project is to artistically depict the tension between freedom and security, ignorance and knowledge. Through the visual symbolism of the empty bird cages and the protagonist’s posture, the emotional and psychological dimension of the human shift in consciousness is made tangible. The cage stands for what supposedly holds us back, while the emptiness and darkness in the images stand for inner isolation and confusion. However, with the arrival of light and knowledge, the project also confronts us with the paradoxical realization that what we strive for as freedom often brings with it a frightening and overwhelming reality. The question arises: is escape from ignorance always the path worth pursuing, or does it lead us into a world where the burden of knowledge is sometimes too heavy to bear?
Through this series, I not only want to portray inner conflict and inner turmoil, but also invite the viewer to reflect on the nature of freedom, knowledge and responsibility. The photographs are intended to encourage viewers to question their own mental “cages” and consider what protective walls they may have unconsciously erected around themselves.