Portfolio - Phobias

‘Phobias’ has concentrated on the death of a phobia, or at least the passing of one feeling into another. The loss of a strong feeling, be it fear, love or loneliness is at the core of this work. The image of the dead bird obviously symbolised death, but also paradoxically hope, ideas of re-birth and the mythological winged creature carrying the soul to the next world inform this work.

For O’Hara birds have always caused an uneasiness to well inside her, manifesting as a phobia. They exist in our world and yet seem far removed from us mammals. Their physical make-up, movement, soft bodies and hard beaks all balanced on such skinny legs with their clawed toes have always invoked an uncomfortableness within her. Their world of flight and song is removed from ours and has always created wonder in man. Fear is mostly concentrated in the unknown so by studying the avian form in detail these feelings subsided.

As a method to overcome strong unwanted feelings, studying and reproducing has become a cathartic experience. And with it the bird/wing image has come to embody a liberation within the work and herself. The image of the dead bird creates a sense of lost hope and opportunity for freedom. Their fragility now overtakes their power. Through using paper and porcelain as her chosen media, she wishes to emphasise this fragility.