Motion Studies: The Art and Science of Bird Flight

This chapter presents Motion Studies, an artwork that brought together investigations into bird flight, at the intersection of art and science. At the core of the project were motion studies undertaken in a flight laboratory and translated into video. Motion Studies used a fluid dynamics imaging system known as digital particle velocimetry to compare the nature of birds’ flights in different conditions. The footage was later edited into an experimental art video that combines location footage, archival imagery and a digitally altered sound track of wild birds’ calls. Motion Studies has been exhibited around the world as both a single-channel video and as part of a video installation. Insights gained while working on the art video have led to promising new scientific research directions for the team and to a series of related art works.