ireneberra.com

Hi, I’m Irene and I paint birds.

Birds taught me that you should always keep on trying, that borders between countries and between city and countryside are really an illusion, and that it is possible to adapt to your environment even when it is far from ideal.

My interest in songbirds began while I was working on my PhD dissertation on the evolution of language in Italy, where I am originally from. I also clearly remember how astonished I was when, in my first month in the Netherlands, I saw seagulls flying near the University of Amsterdam. I had always associated them with the coast.

Since 2024 birds are a total obsession. That year a pair of oystercatchers nested on the roof of the building where I work. I became fascinated by the delicate balance of survival in the city.

From that moment on even more birds appeared in my paintings, zines and concertina-books. I prefer to work on used cardboard or old envelopes. When I found a job in the hyper-efficient world of logistics, I suddenly had an endless supply of used cardboard boxes at my disposal. Cut to small pieces, with several layers glued on top of each other: a perfect substitute for the canvas.

Over time it became increasingly clear to me how remarkable this modest medium actually is for the watercolour and heavily diluted acrylic paint I work with. The material I paint on often has a pattern, a print, a colour, a small hole or a tear. When I paint, I have to take into account what is already there. The final result often comes as a surprise.

I find my inspiration while running through the forest or across the heath, while traveling by train, and every time I encounter a bird. With my work I want to share my enthusiasm for nature as well as my grief over how we treat it. What I paint is a reflection on the relationship between humans, the landscape and non-human animals. It also provides an escape route. You can always find shelter in art.