Description
Acrylic on canvas, Dereje Shiferaw (Ethiopian, born 1976)
The Bird Knows, 2025
100 x 100 cm
In The Bird Knows, a vivid red bird cuts across a luminous yellow landscape, becoming a powerful symbol of freedom, intuition and the instinct to seek refuge in uncertain times. Its bold silhouette contrasts with the layered textures and expressive marks that fill the canvas, creating a palpable tension between movement and instability.
Fragments of architectural forms emerge from the surrounding colour, suggesting buildings that feel fragile and unsettled. Black lines, scattered shapes and flashes of blue and red interrupt the dominant yellow palette, evoking a world in flux, where familiar structures seem to shift and certainty remains elusive.
Against this backdrop, the bird appears as both a messenger and a witness, carrying an unspoken knowledge that exists beyond what can be seen or explained. Its flight suggests an urgency to escape, but also the possibility of finding a way forward when the world below feels precarious.
Through its expressive composition and striking contrasts, The Bird Knows explores the relationship between freedom and vulnerability, inviting viewers to reflect on intuition, resilience and the quiet wisdom of knowing when it is time to rise above uncertainty.
Signed ‘Dereje (front)
Provenance: Direct from the artist
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