Sailor’s Soul (Swallow)

In maritime tradition, the swallow is synonymous with safe passage, its appearance signalling the nearness of land. It was long believed that the souls of those lost at sea were carried to heaven on the wings of swallows. The well-known sailor’s tattoo of a swallow and a dagger commemorates a treasured friend who died on a voyage – a mark of remembrance and loss. Might we grieve the loss of our swallows? Since 2012, its population has declined by 43%, due to a lack of insects, the loss of nesting sites as barns are blocked off or converted, and the impacts of climate change on migration.

Acrylic on board, white wood tray frame
Painting size: 30 × 30 cm
Frame size: 32.5 × 32.5 cm