Teacher, Teacher (Great-Tit)

The distinctive call of the great tit, so often heard as “teacher, teacher”, is one of the first sounds to mark the early morning, particularly in April and May. In this work, that repeated phrase is imagined as a request, a reaching out for knowledge and bird itself were asking a question of the world it inhabits – specifically why there is a 17% decline in its numbers between 2014 and 2024. This, of course, is linked to a reduction in insect populations, an important food source, and the emergence of a new strain of avian pox- both associated with the impacts of the climate crisis. The painting reflects on this familiar call as both a presence and a plea for information, echoing within a world undergoing profound environmental change.

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