For the birdwatcher, noticing birds is noticing the world.

A flicker in a tree becomes shape, then colour and pattern. Behaviour emerges, and finally an entire story.

The miniature painting, like birdwatching, bids the eye remain a moment longer. At this scale, the smallest distinction is what we are after. We follow the curve of a wing, the shift from turquoise to green to chestnut.

Nattering on about the Cape robin-chat may seem frivolous, and, like many worthy pursuits, partly is. With practice, we take in more. We note the Cape weaver having a quarrel, the Southern red bishop building its nest. The gardens and wetlands, the rooftops and the open sky all begin to feel inhabited, and suddenly, even the common birds have much to reveal. Yes, even the pigeon, especially the pigeon.

From the Cape sparrow to the Malachite kingfisher, the familiar and the dazzling sit side by side in this new collection.

The Flock is an ode to birds and the people who notice them.