Carsten Höller trained as a scientist before he became a visual artist, and his core interest was behavioural science. An equal number of canaries or two different species are held in two equally sized cages that are linked to each other by a scale, hanging from the ceiling. Both aviaries are also similar in design, weight and features. The needle and dial at the main suspension enables the visitor to read whether the two elements hang at the same level, or if the movements of the birds have altered the equilibrium. One is drawn to observe the differences between the behaviour of the birds in each cage: their song, their flight pattern, etc.
Kanarienwaage (Canary Scale), 2010. Six Timbrado Español and six Harzer Roller male canaries; framework and aviaries: powder-coated metal, metal wire, winches for raising and lowering the scale, wood perches, sand, clay bowls with birdseed, drinking tubes, plastic birdbath houses with water. Courtesy the artist and Massimo De Carlo, Milan/London/Hong Kong. Photo credit: Attilio Maranzano
