The call of the O’O
The Hawaiian Kauai Oo has died out. The sound of the last male of this species of bird calling in vain to attract a female was captured on tape. This autumn you can hear this remarkable recording at the Allard Pierson in The call of the O’o: Nature under pressure. The main question addressed during this event is: How do humans relate to nature?
Exhibition from August 30, 2024 to January 26, 2025 at the Allard Pierson Museum, Amsterdam.
The exhibition sheds light on the relationship between the people of western Europe and nature, from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century, with an extensive exhibition and supporting programme of activities. The aim of the event is to raise awareness of the accelerated extinction of many species of plants and animals. Wonderful drawings, books and prints illustrate how western Europeans have studied and depicted nature, and what their motives and values were. An inquisitive mind and a sense of wonder went hand in hand with hunting, overexploitation and destruction of habitats. Why did humans view themselves as standing outside of nature for centuries?
The exhibition includes works by contemporary artists that relate to historical stories and clarify the impact of history on the present.