Bird Watching

Bird Watching is a 3D computer animation installation that presents images of birds. As a study of movement, the animation—manually created through 3D animation software—draws from close direct observation of real bird behaviour. The title highlights the iconic simulation of its subject, emphasising the virtuality of the bird representations. This work focuses on their movement, inviting a slow sensitivity and attention to the bird’s subtle, familiar gestures. Throughout the animation, the virtual birds gradually deviate from typical behaviour, engaging in grotesque and unconventional acts—such as consuming seemingly inedible objects and navigating unexpected environments. In stark contrast to the hyper-anthropomorphic or science-fiction animations commonly seen in computer-generated media, these bird representations retain their avian behaviour despite being placed in atypical contexts. This approach replicates situations that, while peculiar, remain within the confines of the familiar. Detail and movement are carefully crafted, resisting the rapid automation and spectacle of current/emerging image-making technologies.

Timothy Thomasson
Timothy Thomasson is a Montréal-based artist whose work explores slowness and duration, questioning how moving images are produced and consumed in both historical and contemporary contexts. His practice examines the effects of computer-generated imagery and emerging technologies on society, culture, aesthetics, and perception. Thomasson’s work has been awarded and exhibited at numerous galleries and festivals internationally.