24 May to 14 September 2014
The Wonder of Birds explores the cultural impact of birds upon mankind. Eliciting a wide range of emotions from awe to fear and from pleasure to cruelty, birds have intrigued humanity since the earliest of times. With loans from local and national collections, the exhibition spans the centuries and includes some 220 works by major artists and illustrators, historical and contemporary, natural history, archaeology, fashion and social history. This innovative exhibition also examines local, national and international issues.
The Wonder of Birds comprises six sections, each highlighting a different aspect of birds, their meanings and our relationships with them. It begins by introducing the visitor to the breadth of this fascinating subject: what is a bird; what do they mean to us; how have we studied, portrayed, preserved, endangered and used them?
