fried birds of paradise
[letter: 1750.9.18]
Under the lingering shadow of a lost paradise,
an overwhelming fertility lingers in the horizon
—it’s calling for me.
Calling to be uprooted and transported across oceans.
To be renamed and organized in houses made of glass.
To be controlled and possessed.
It is calling for me to be stolen away
and to be put under my wings of protection.
I must get my hands on the promised coconut,
so that fried birds of paradise could finally fly into my mouth when I open it.
Fried birds of paradise is a specific installation which explores the colonial histories of European botanical gardens. The work was produced as the final project for the Experimental Sculpture course at Art School MAA, facilitated by Elina Nissinen and Oskari Ruuska, and was exhibited at the final group show Suspension in Formalin held at the Winter Garden Helsinki (16–25 May 2026).
image transfers and essay on plywood
2026