The Bird from Bages

I came across this artwork in a gallery in a small village in Southwest France while on holiday. At the time I wasn’t looking for anything, however I immediately fell in love. Rewind, years before this we were at a friend’s wedding in Riva del Garda. I saw a gorgeous painting of flowers in beautiful shades of pinks and fuchsias on a dark background painted on a circular canvas. I thought about it for too long and when I decided to go back for it, the painting was sold. I still remember it so vividly and still regret I missed out on it.

Creating a design is always easier when you have a starting point and I often find that artwork can be that point of reference . A lot of the time if you have a particular feature in a room already that becomes the focal point e.g. a fireplace. When you have a focal point, you essentially have your starting point and so that makes it easier to begin creating your space and deciding on all the other elements. A focal point can also be a great piece of furniture, a nice mirror, or a beautiful chandelier, basically something that you want to showcase and that anchors the space. Also, you might have smaller inspirational pieces that by themselves do not amount to much but that you can draw on to decide colour choices, a theme and a style for your space. Perhaps an item you have reminds you of an interior you’ve seen or experienced and that can be the catalyst in recreating a similar vibe with your personal touches.

For me, the bird assaulted my senses in the best possible way. It stirred up a combination of feelings from what I saw, death, beauty, rebirth, traces of myself. Unlike the flowers which arguably most people would love, this piece of art was a talking point, raw and beautiful and if it was going to live in our home, I didn’t want to just impose it! The day I came across it we’d had a lovely Tuesday, topped off by some bubbles on our small Air bnb rooftop terrace. I was banging on about how amazing the bird was and the decision was made, Thomas thought it was cool too, and I was still in love! Maybe it was a case of anything to shut one bird up, who knows! Next morning, I went to get it and the gallery was closed, opening only the Friday evening before we flew home. Déjà vu Riva! No, this time it was meant to be, the deal was done, it would stay in the gallery until the end of the exhibition and then it arrived a few weeks after we got home. Happy ending this time.

Something you love ignites your personality and character into a space, makes it feel more lived in and personal. I think we often see incredible interior design images and try to copy the look into our own space. Remember the obsession with grey, grey was in and was everywhere, on the walls, furniture, floors, people went mad for grey. Reflecting, it was a lot about buying into a distinct look it didn’t necessarily take into consideration how grey might support and emulate your personal style. We’re finding now that grey is being swapped out for warmer based neutrals and so I think the trick to consider is to let those images inspire you, but not dictate you.

For me, when I see the bird now, I don’t just admire it as an outstanding piece of artwork and a focal point of the room it’s in, it makes me feel happy – it transports and conjures up memories of time spent at the end of our trip. A sleepy fishing village that was decided on pretty much off the cuff but that ended up being a highlight for us. Where we followed a simple eel trail around the village to much delight of the boys, where we met a wonderfully eccentric Dane living there who played football with the boys and invited us into his home, where Fox by himself, out of his comfort zone but with confidence went to the local boulangerie and asked for his ‘deux croissants si vous plait’ then bounded out with the biggest smile and where the boys found out they were getting a new cousin. Wonderful, glorious sunny days filled with happy memories.

Afterwards I found out more about the South African artist and the artwork, which was created through the lens of fantasy, whereby ‘the hybrid figure has a metaphorical value of adaptability and vulnerability of all living creatures and their struggle for survival, under the harsh circumstances of socio-political and environmental change’. Knowing this adds more depth, another layer that makes it even more interesting to me.

For you, seek out and incorporate pieces that mean something to you, that make you smile. When you come across something new that you fall for be that materials, furniture, a certain colour or artwork, get it if you can, you'll find the perfect space for it. Trust your gut instinct and just go for it, Bag(e)s yourself a bird of your own!

Claire