birds don’t cry
POLISH ARTIST DOROTA MONIUSZKO CREATES FOWL-FILLED COLLAGE.
Tell us a bit about yourself. I’m a designer, pop culture addict, mum of two and nature enthusiast. I live in Durham, North Carolina, but was born and raised in Poland.
What is your background in art? I was always drawn to art. It runs in my family. My grandfather was a very talented painter, and for as long as I can remember, I’ve loved singing, fashion and crafting. I majored in business management, but spent hours taking painting and drawing courses. My professional career took a turn and I became a visual designer working in advertising in Poland. Today, I work for Burt’s Bees, where I design packaging for cosmetics and face care products.
What was the idea behind this project? Birds Don’t Cry is my Instagram art project where I transform people depicted in portrait paintings into birds. I created my first digital collage around 10 years ago: a rooster portrayed as Napoleon III from the painting by Franz Xaver Winterhalter. That proud and majestic bird seemed to fit perfectly as the Emperor of the French. The idea of matching birds with other personalities intrigued me, and eventually evolved into this project.
Where did your fascination with birds begin? Birds have always fascinated me. When I was a girl, I lived on the ninth floor and would often watch birds flying next to my window. One of my favourite childhood memories is a summer sunset in the city and the sound of flying swifts. I have a tattoo of those birds on my shoulder.
Do you have a favourite type? There are so many. I love swifts and swallows, but I’m fascinated by vultures, mostly because I imagine them having very sarcastic personalities. For my Instagram project, I like working with ducks and chickens. Ducks are commonly anthropomorphised in fairytales and modern animation, so it’s more natural for me to see them as human-like creatures. And chickens? I imagine them being very strict and serious. When I work with a painting portraying a diva or local gossip, a chicken is my bird of choice.
Do you assign a back story to each character you create? I study people pictured in paintings. There’s a lot of human history in all the subtle details. I look at their facial expression, body language and the situation they’re in and try to guess their emotions. My birds share those emotions. I’m also a big fan of music and dedicate one song to each of my pieces. I play those songs while I work; it’s a lot of fun.
How many pieces have you made in this series so far? Probably around 250, and that number is growing.
What do you love about what you do? I’ve found my own way to express the creative part of myself. I like the fact the montages are a little bit funny – they brighten up the day. And of course, I really appreciate all the positive energy I get from my Instagram followers. Huge thanks, everyone!
Where can we see more of your pretty pictures? On Instagram at @birds_dont_cry.