I am currently developing ideas from Landscapes which show evidence of past human occupation, such as areas in Dorset, Wiltshire, Somerset and further afield like in Northern, Central and Western Australia. I am intrigued by the ways in which civilizations have left their mark upon the land, where surfaces have undergone physical change and by the ways in which forms have been built in order to honor the beliefs and love of humanity and of the Cosmos.

I make work using a broad range of material processes using a monochrome pallet; colour is a distraction. The "mark" and its visual juxtaposition with others are of crucial importance. The size of my work is important too, a lot of what I do is large, big enough for me to become actively involved in the making of marks, attempting to reflect some thing about the spirit of the place that is inspiring me.

I have much respect for the work of John Virtue, Eduardo Chillada, Richard Serra and the Papunya Tula group of Aboriginal Artists whose elemental modes of expression, use of materials and space have influenced the development of my work.

My current work is as much about the process of 2making2 as it is about representations of spaces or places.

Nigel Bird
February 2011