ORNITHOMANIA first started as a collection of bird drawings and ended up becoming my MA thesis on scientific illustration. The main visual goal was to purify the forms of the birds from any secondary detail and to focus on the precise specifics of every individual species.
Tendency to realistically present every detail is not the most optimal way to identify and visually categorize all the subjects. Famous Serbian artist and ornithologist Javor Rašajski (author of "Birds of Serbia"), has throughout his many years of experience concluded that photography will never surpass illustration as the best way to highlight the key morphologic detail of the specie.
With this project, I explored the relationship between strictly utilitarian illustration and a more artistically stylized approach. To be precise: I explored how far I can take a stylized approach in representing every subject, but for it to still keep its primary function- identification.
I decided to geographically focus on Vojvodina territory (Serbia),
I decided to geographically focus on Vojvodina territory (Serbia),
and to depict the 111 most common bird species.
Birds were presented separately, within the same square format in order to accentuate artistic approach and design within every bird shape (prints and catalog). They are also presented on a poster- in realistic proportions and grouped genealogically, which is standard for scientific illustration.
Birds were presented separately, within the same square format in order to accentuate artistic approach and design within every bird shape (prints and catalog). They are also presented on a poster- in realistic proportions and grouped genealogically, which is standard for scientific illustration.
