The Javan mynah has a reputation for being a pest with its loud, raucous call. But did you know that this common bird isn't a Singapore native? Previously endemic to the Indonesian islands of Java and Bali, the yellow-billed, black songbird was introduced to the Lion City in the 1920s through the caged bird trade.
Spotlighting the Javan mynah, Dutch photographer Anaïs López's multimedia exhibition The Migrant uses the bird's journey as a vehicle to discuss migration, identity, belonging, human-animal relationships, and the 'other'. It's set to take over Objectifs' Chapel Gallery from April 15 to May 30.
Expect audio, video, text and photography on display, along with perspectives from biologists, political scientists, and even gun enthusiasts weaved in together to provide a well-rounded account of the complex relationships between humans, animals and the consequences of rapid urbanisation. The exhibition also schools viewers on Southeast Asian history, as well as the position of the unwanted outsider.
Anaïs shares, "I use my camera to record the interaction between people and their urban surroundings, and ask the question: do people make the city, or the other way around? This project is not only about how we deal with our environment but also how we deal with 'the other'. In creating the ideal society, who is excluded?"
There's no doubt that this thought-provoking exhibition makes for an interesting conversation starter. The conversation also continues with a free online panel discussion featuring Anaïs, production company Prospektor's Eefje Blankevoort, and renowned comic artist Sonny Liew who illustrated the photobook on The Migrant. And if you'd like to gain more insight, check out Objectifs' online workshop on cross-media projects involving photography. For more information, visit objectifs.com.sg/the-migrant.
