For the birds

You stepped into the art gallery to escape the humidity and the rain that was beginning to fall. It didn't quite fit right, snuggled in between the small hanok style coffee shops and handicraft stores. A large banner featuring a nude and bloated waxen male figure hung brazenly on the outer wall. Inside was dark and cool, and the whitewashed walls were familiar. Galleries were the same here as at home, were the same as in Toronto. You saw the central feature as soon as you passed through the door, it was inescapable, but you ignored it, deciding to leave it until last, and you slowly took your time, walking around the room anti-clockwise, studying each piece carefully, not wanting to miss anything and trying not to think about what was ahead, until there was nothing else to see.

There was a large table, upon which rested a large, rectangular bird cage, painted white. Inside was a large variety of trophies, cups and medals, of  differing heights. Here and there, was a trophy filled with birdseed, or water. Here and there and there, was bird shit.
Three small, white birds inhabited the space, and your heart broke a moment.
 Who let them out to fly around in the evenings? Who spoke to them, who loved them??

Dongwook Lee - Love Me Sweet exhibit in Buk Chang Dong, Seoul

You moved slowly around the side of the cage, to the nose bleed seats. The birds  were flying laps, lengthways from one end to the other, like a distressed relay. You moved your face closer to the bars, and tried to make eye contact. You extended a finger, inviting the captives to smell you, scratch you or peck you, they deserved to exert some anger, you felt. You told yourself, that if you spoke enough Korean you would ask about them, whether they were pets or merely props. But you didn't, so you only mumbled 죄송합니다 to the birds and left.

Keepin' the faith.