Raven 2026
This film work was made through following two pairs of ravens over a period of a year.
We observed them tending their nests, rearing chicks, flipping upside down (just because they could), hiding food and both surviving and succumbing to the elements. When watching ravens, the watcher is also being scrutinised. They recognise faces, sounds, gestures and physical traits. Known to follow and acknowledge human presence, to hold grudges and reward kindnesses, they are always vigilant, and once they have our attention they will caw loudly or enact flamboyant fly pasts. We would pay attention and listen and a mutual acknowledgement took place.
The earliest human representations of ravens can be seen in the 30,000-year-old drawings of them in the Lascaux caves in France. Intelligent, mischievous, sentient and darkly beautiful, these mysterious creatures have been watching us for a long time. In more recent history, corvids have been demonised as outcasts, accused of foul deeds and so, effectively persecuted with impunity. But the Norse God Odin held a more balanced view, his two ravens Huggin and Muninn (Thought and Memory) sat on his shoulders and were sent out to fly over the world and report back what was taking place on the earth. Bringing accounts of life and death, aerial views of good and evil. Iridescent black emissaries from the past and the future.
Single channel video 4K 18 minutes with audio incantation. Filmed on the island of Lewis, Outer Hebrides 2025
Following two pairs of ravens over a period of a year, observing them tending their nests, rearing chicks, flipping upside down, hiding food and both surviving and succumbing to the elements.