Hakan Topal: The Golden Cage
June 11–November 13, 2022
Contemplate the plight of the kelaynak, or Northern Bald Ibis, with this immersive installation by artist Hakan Topal.
Blending video, sound, text, and artifacts, The Golden Cage explores the impact of human intervention on the life of one of the most endangered bird species across the highly nationalized terrain of the Turkish-Syrian border.
Image credit ©Hakan Topal
Once considered sacred in ancient times, the kelaynak was thought to be the first bird released from Noah’s Ark. With its bare, red face and neck, and long narrow feathers, the kelaynak faces near-total extinction due to hunting, pesticides, and human conflict.
In 2016, the state-operated Birecik Kelaynak Reproduction Centre – which has kept a small population in semi-captivity since the 1970s – decided not to release the birds from their cages during the migratory season. While the aim was to protect them, their entrapment resulted in a grave disruption to their fundamental instincts and habits.
Examining the line between protection and prevention, Topal’s installation explores the notion of man-made borders as cages and questions the autonomy of vulnerable people who must migrate and cross borders to survive – contemplating their ability to speak for themselves.
By projecting an epic poem written from the voice of the “protector” over video footage of the kelaynak and its habitat, the installation places you at the centre of this threatened species’ world.
Image credit ©Hakan Topal
The Golden Cage is a part of the Museum’s Birds rotation — a deep dive into the Museum’s Permanent Collection focusing on the fascinating sights and stories of the avian world and the art they’ve inspired throughout history.
About the Artist
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Hakan Topal
Curated by
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Dr. Michael Chagnon
