Funny birds decorated with unique colour patterns and lots of imagination
From: 2025-06-13 -
To: 2025-10-12
Marianne Barbier :
She devotes her time and talent to creating “funny little birds” in ceramic. She shapes them all by hand and colours them according to her inspiration of the moment ... which often makes them funny.
Des drôles d’oiseaux (Funny birds) :
Marianne Barbier's birds are artistic renditions of bird species that exist in Belgium: cranes, pigeons, owls, robins, ... But they are not faithful reproductions. She lets her imagination reinvent them. Many of her birds - she has bred more than 1,000 of them - have bold, vivid colours and eye-catching patterns, while others adopt softer tones, blending perfectly into the natural setting of a garden. This diversity reflects the richness of nature and the diversity of species that inhabit our gardens.
Technique :
Each bird is the result of a meticulous process. Marianne Barbier begins by modelling the clay with her fingers, taking care to capture the essence of each bird. She then fires the clay at a low temperature to solidify the shape. The next step is to paint the birds with coloured glazes before a second high-temperature firing, which fixes the colours and gives the ceramic its shiny appearance.
Low-temperature firing of her creations prevents the colours from 'melting' but makes the birds more fragile than when fired at high temperature. That's why the “funny birds” can't spend the winter in the garden.
Adaption des textes sur le site web de RTBF
www.rtbf.be/article/des-droles-de-zoiseaux-au-jardin-11426047