Name/Title
Convalescent SwallowEntry/Object ID
2021.08.05Description
Matthew Ballantyne (b. 1984) is an artist and poet based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Through photography, sculpture, and installation Ballantyne depicts his complex relationship and fixation with birds to "search for empathy in an enchanted but tragic world." His artworks tackle the ecology of the social environments that exist between humanity and nature.
There is a sense of irony in his pieces as Ballantyne blends the role of artist and birdwatcher observing landscapes for long hours to capture the fleeting moments of animals that are indifferent towards him. To the artist, his obsession brings back awareness and compassion toward the lives of birds (and other animals) who have been forgotten and discarded as a result of human exploits. Dead or alive, his subjects become more than aspects of nature. Ballantyne uses his titles to describe the lives and actions of the birds, assigning them human emotions and personality.
After attending the University of Toronto, Ballantyne received a BFA and MFA from the University of British Columbia. His works have been exhibited across Canada and the United States.Artwork Details
Medium
giclee print on boardMade/Created
Date made
2021Edition
varied edition