Baden Croft: Twitch

Baden Croft’s Twitch series (a word borrowed from the birdwatcher term ‘twitcher’) emerged from a desire to break the monotony of intense landscape work, serving as a refreshing shift in his artistic focus. A longstanding fascination with ecology and the omnipresence of birds in various environments likely drove the manifestation of this project; whether visible or merely heard, their embodiment of the spirit of nature, even in urban settings, became a constant thread binding all.

The distinct personalities of the birds Baden frequently encounters inspired him to personify them in portraits, adding depth to their representation. Accompanying these, and serving as cornerstones of the exhibition, are two large 'Bird Utopia' landscapes that reflect the diverse habitats of each bird species. What began as small collages from old books evolved into these richly layered compositions. Driven by a desire to move beyond traditional single-image painting, Croft found a fresh approach in combining fragments of each bird’s habitat. As a collection, these paintings weave together patches of desert, forests, and freshwater streams, culminating in a vibrant tapestry connecting the portrayed birds with their natural environments and their intricate ecosystems.

Ultimately, Twitch celebrates avian life and highlights the beauty and complexity of our shared ecological web.