• Some Pigeons Are More Equal Than Others
  • Posted 10 months ago by staff · Art & Design · 7014 Views

  • To coincide with this year's Venice Biennale, Berlin-based artists Julius von Bismarck and Julian Charriere decided to dye 35 of the local pigeons to give them a new life as beautiful tropical birds. To do this, a special (animal friendly) "Pigeon Apparatus" was assembled which featured a conveyor belt mechanism to take the bird inside where they were automatically sprayed with non-harmful dyes. Once dyed a randomly selected assortment of bright colours, the bird was released once again to mingle with the other (now rather dull looking) pigeons in the wild.

    • people are beyond stupid, the ego of humanity knows no bounds. let's just grab some wild birds - spray paint them, call it art and then just release them back into the wild where we expect that they'll be treated normally by other pigeons because birds are stupid - wrong. They will be ostracised and treated completely differently because of how they now look. Humans are moronic.
    • retrorevival Posted 10 months ago · 4
    • Jeez, get a life.
    • why so serious? Posted 10 months ago · -2
    • my life is pretty fantastic, thanks. I just like to give a shit, just because I'm against something doesn't mean I have no "life". I would love to know what it is that you do in your "life" that makes you think I need to get one...
    • retrorevival Posted 10 months ago · -2
    • well said!
    • yetanotherfriend Posted 10 months ago · 4
    • Pigeons are vermin, don't dye them. Shoot them all.
    • reasonableperson Posted 10 months ago · 3
    • you should have said "don't dye them, DIE them". if you're gonna be wrong at least be funny
    • Fence Posted 10 months ago · -3
    • Humans are indeed moronic, the best example being people who get on their moral high horse about 6 worthless pigeons, then pretend to know the pigeon psychology that will cause them to be ostracized by other pigeons. What a moronic moron. There's a chance these pigeons will be deemed more attractive by the plumage as with their peacock relatives. There's more chance that it doesn't matter because they are pigeons. These are the kind of morons we need to stamp out, because they make me so angry that I couldn't event take advantage or a great pun opportunity involving the phrase 'ostrich-ized' above. Godammit.
    • Mat Posted 10 months ago · 2
    • The one with that gammy foot looks nice.
    • Tashbags Posted 10 months ago · -1 Reply
    • amazing. I love this.
    • Sally Posted 10 months ago · 3 Reply
    • They are Gods among men and pigeons. They will become Lords in their homelands.
    • Jon Jon Tan Cocoa Puffs 3 Posted 10 months ago · 1 Reply
    • fuck yeah best thing ive seen in ages
    • J Posted 10 months ago · -6 Reply
    • Wow I like the red one! They should do it to EVERY pigeon in the UK!
    • Stom Posted 10 months ago · -2 Reply
    • I agree with retrorevival This "artwork" might look good put together as a series of white cyc shots, amplifying the coloured birds. However I feel that out in the wild the gimmick wears of pretty quick as they scatter amongst the other grey masses. There is nothing natural or right about doing this to animals. Even if the above series of coloured pigeons does look dynamic. Just render it digitally and that way the animals won't be harmed. It's this blog post that the artist really wants at the end of the day. Looks cool but not right!!
    • C Posted 10 months ago · 4
    • They did say animal friendly AND non harmful. I disagree with retrorevival, I don't think pigeons do ostracising like that. They're kinda chill with different coloured dudes and are quite accomadating towards differently able pigeons too, off topic but worth noting. Maybe just plucking pigeons off the street is a bit of a dick move, I don't know what I'd think about it if I were a pidge. I do know all them pigeons look hella chill in the photos after being coloured in. Stressed out pigeons don't hang around for photos, they fly around and shit all over your studio. Maybe these guys did dyeing pigeons right, if there is a right way. I can think of worse ways for sure TOO LONG DIDN'T READ
    • Fence Posted 10 months ago · -2
    • there is no "right way" to dye animals. If you read the original text that goes with this series by the artists, the terms "animal friendly" and "non harmful" do not appear, it's as if HUH/Jack Lowe has put them in to keep people happy
    • retrorevival Posted 10 months ago · 2
    • "harmless food dye" - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/9501773/Venices-pigeons-dyed-red-blue-and-green.html#
    • Roof Posted 10 months ago · 2 Reply
    • and it's not a original idea, by the way --> http://www.dalpine.com/en/book/paloma-al-aire
    • josef k Posted 10 months ago · -2 Reply
    • retrorevival since when do you know so much about how pigeon culture, and more specifically pigeon racism? maybe they are completely cool with other coloured brothers, you racist person.. you make me sick with your know it all attitude and bigoted views.
    • Jim Posted 10 months ago · -3 Reply
    • That's just bullshit. For all I care those so-called artists should be the ones to 'fly'.
    • az Posted 10 months ago · 2 Reply
    • i think pigeons might be color blind
    • colby Posted 10 months ago · -1
    • They are.
    • soy Posted 10 months ago · 0
    • I am quite sure that pigeons have small brains so they probably forgot what happened and maybe it impresses the lady pigeons and helps them get laid.
    • Percival Posted 10 months ago · 7
    • I like the coloured pigeons. Its nice for us to look at plus i doubt the pigeons give a shit- they probably forgot they were even dyed after a few hours.
    • Loz Posted 10 months ago · 3 Reply
    • Well they sprayed them pigeons so what?! Don't we dye our hair sometimes to look different?!: pink, blue, green, yellow anyone?!!! Pigeons eat vomit, rotten stuff, sleep and trampled on their own poo...a bit of paint won't do any harm on them hey...chill darlings!
    • Adriana Posted 9 months ago · 1 Reply
    • Pigeons are not color blind...
    • Vivien Posted 9 months ago · 1 Reply