© Andy Catlin
© National Museums Scotland
Audubon’s Birds of America is an exciting new blueprint exhibition from National Museums Scotland. A superbly adaptable and flexible exhibition, it is based on high-resolution photography of one of the world’s most famous and valuable rare books, Birds of America by John James Audubon. It offers diverse visitor attractions the opportunity to showcase content relating to bird life, the study of nature, printmaking, conservation and the biodiversity crisis in a harmonious blending of art and science.
Birds of America is a landmark work of ornithological illustration which took almost 12 years to complete. Today only 120 copies are known to exist and they are rarely on display due to their vulnerability to light. The plates photographed for reproduction in this exhibition, each measuring almost one metre (39 inches) in height, are drawn from the National Museums Scotland library collection.
This exhibition is a new interpretation of the making and significance of this incredible body of work and the story is complemented by letters, manuscripts, photography, films and soundscapes. It presents the historical context of Birds of America and considers why Audubon’s artistic style was so ground-breaking. Lastly, it explores how this book came to influence the study of natural sciences today and what we can learn from its legacy in the face of the biodiversity and climate crises.
The exhibition addresses some of the complexities and controversies surrounding the book’s creator, John James Audubon. In addition, it shows how the intelligentsia in Edinburgh, Scotland influenced the book’s formation and led to its publication following Audubon’s rejection by the scientific community in Philadelphia, USA.
An important conservation thread runs throughout the exhibition and is highlighted at the end, raising awareness of our impact on nature and how bird populations have changed since the 19th century. Visitors come to the end of the exhibition feeling an appreciation of the beauty of birds, and inspired to protect the natural world.
Films, soundscapes and interactive user interfaces are available and supplied as software for adapted use at your venue.
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