Photo (c) Lea Fabienne. 2025

Color Boxes (I am what you like)

The traits, colors and displays of many species are shaped by the responses of others in their environment. This selection can cause some colors to be avoided, and others to be favored by entire species or populations. However, the bowerbird Amblyornis inornata has shown both cultural and individual preferences in their collected displays of found objects, with the potential for color selection to vary from bird to bird. In the development of individual preferences, is it more beneficial to change one’s own views to that of the audience?

This artwork presents hand-sculpted clay and ceramic specimens in four color categories, yet only those in the color box that aligns with the majority’s preference will be visible. The species for each sculpture was carefully chosen either for having colors that altered human/wildlife interaction, or for their significance to the artist, with a central bowerbird placed outside of the color boxes. By encouraging the viewer to vote for their color of choice, this work questions the impact audiences have on artwork while also exploring the way color – and the value we place on it – influences collection of wildlife specimens.

Instructions for interaction were:
Please use the color-preference display hanging on the wall to vote for a color. Do not interact with anything on the central display table. If no one is available to monitor the work, voting will be closed and the last color box selected by participants will remain on display.

Fact Box

Color Boxes (I am what you like)