1000 WORDS GALLERY REVIEW FLORENCE HUA MIN ZHU 450120147 BIRD OF HERMES IS MY NAME, EATING MY WINGS TO MAKE ME TAME (2010) – GUILERMO CALZADILLA, CUBA/PUERTO RICO B. 1971 + JENNIFER ALLORA, PUERTO RICO/USA b. 1974 Bird of Hermes is my name, eating my wings to make me tame (2010) is a sculptural artwork by two duo contemporary artists, Guilermo Calzadilla (Cuba/Puerto Rico, b.1971) and Jennifer Allora (Puerto Rico/USA, b. 1974), displayed in the Contemporary Arts exhibit of the Art Gallery of NSW. The sculpture is one of six artworks by the duo, which have been selected amongst six other artists from the John Kaldor Family Collection. Artists Calzadilla and Allora have collaborated since 1995 and created and presented art in many mediums such as photography and digital manipulation of photographs, performance art, sound and video, and sculpture. In their artworks they incorporate contentious issues concerning the political, cultural and historical spheres of the 21 st century, which act “as a set of experiments that test whether idea such as authorship, nationality, borders, and democracy adequately describe today’s increasingly global and consumerist society.” [1] The Birds of Hermes is my name, eating my wings to make me tame (2010) sculpture sits on a black-painted pedestal positioned in a corner area of the contemporary arts exhibit. The sculpture is offset from the corner to allow just enough room for viewers to see the sculpture in the round. The sculpture is covered in a camouflage-print material and resembles a combat helmet. Attached to the helmet, there are what appear to be black plastic forms that resemble technology essential in combat, such as an audio headset and action camera. As suggested by the technology and the recognisable form, the helmet is clearly 21 st century military combat gear worn by soldiers who have been on many occasions been caught on video and displayed by various media outlets. It can be easily recognised as a symbol of war and more specifically, as suggested by the two handmade prints that flank the sculptural piece, the ongoing war raging in Iraq. The prints, Intermission (Halloween Iraq II) (2008) and Intermission (Halloween Iraq portrait 1) (2010) by the same artists, depict soldiers participating in festivities [2] . This of which immediately is an odd and unusual image for the viewer as it strays from the usual depiction of the military via formal mediums such the governments and the media. Placed in conjunction with the Birds of Hermes…, the work encourages the viewer to develop an understanding of soldiers as ordinary people other than the usual dehumanised military puppets they are depicted in formal streams of outlets. Calzadilla and Allora have cleverly chosen to display a helmet, which can be easily identified as a combat helmet to represent the hundreds, if not thousands, of soldiers currently fighting our governments’ wars. The single helmet strategically placed on a black hip/waist-height pedestal evokes the image of a nameless soldier. Despite media coverage and the formal attempts at recognising of the bravery these soldiers, the image of these soldiers are sadly reduced to the image of a helmet - a camouflage print, a weapon of war. These images are unintentionally linked to bouts of violence. Violence of which have been orchestrated by political powers, which still to this day has not been amicably resolved. The references to Hermes, the messenger of the Olympic gods, further emphasise how these soldiers are mere messengers sent to foreign lands to fight for their country. The bird wings, painted bronze, attached to the sides of the combat helmet, initially create a glorified image – an impression often associated with Greek mythology. As with Hermes, he has been depicted as a muscular male with superhuman abilities and features and is typically donning a helmet with wings [3] . However, as a messenger of the gods, he is by extension an intercessor [4] and emissary. The title of the work also helps to add depth to the artwork. The title refers to the fifth verse of the Ripley Scroll [5] , which has known to be alchemic manuscripts from the 15 th century [6] . They could suggest that Calzadilla and Allora wanted to convey the idea of how power and control and limiting freedom in the military and political realm in our world. The lines “…Standeth the bird of Hermes / Eating his wings variable / And maketh himself yet full sable / …” [5] , in supplement to the artwork, could suggest that war strips freedom from our soldiers to control them and resolutely, stronger in combat. This of which is ironic as bird’s wings are typically symbols of freedom and lightness. It is important to note, that due to the minimal presence of the Ripley Scrolls in modern contemporary culture, it is possible that the viewer may not be aware of the poem. Despite this, the title still does aid the interpretation of the helmet and aids to convey the intentions of Calzadilla and Allora as ideas and meanings surrounding birds and wings, and Greek mythology are timeless concepts that still are explored today.