Yael Davids

Yael Davids presented her work Wingspan of the captive (2021) at Liverpool Central Library. David’s project responded to The Birds of America – a rare nineteenth century book containing illustrations by American naturalist and painter John James Audubon. Davids considers the anatomy, behaviour, and movements of these birds – exploring what it means to migrate, to study and be studied.This research has compelled Davids to reflect on modes and categories of togetherness. Such kinships transcend fixed, physical geographies, establishing points of connection across generations and diverse cultural backgrounds.

Davids engaged with a local kinship group, introducing them to the Feldenkrais Method in weekly sessions; Slow sequential patterns of movement that cultivate awareness – excavating bodily knowledge – an archaeological performance and practice of care directed towards oneself. These sessions embodied the birds trapped in the pages of The Birds of America.

This work was presented in collaboration with Andre van bergen, Hanna Dawn Henderson and Lotte Lara Schroder.

Commissioned by Liverpool Biennial with support from Mondriaan Fund and Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

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