Currently on display for 50 Windows of Creativity - Manchester. You can view the Coo birds at Saddlers Yard, NOMA, Manchester M60 0AB (opposite The Pilcrow Pub). From Oct 25th - Dec 5th 2020.
Available to purchase form our SHOP
Coo Plume - Designed and handmade by us at May Wild Studio.
Individually handmade Ceramic Bird and Beak. Each colour inspired by the plumage of the city pigeon, Dark Grey, Dove Grey, Pink, Maroon and Teal.
Each Coo Bird comes with its own Coo Pu!
The Story
A design inspired by the common urban pigeon.
‘Often downtrodden and little respected this humble bird can be seen around the city on the building ledges and rooftops, flying around the squares and open places, scavenging, defecating and surviving.
The leg design of the birds — a chicken bone cast — is inspired by observing city pigeons eating fried chicken out of a fast food box.
As for the pigeon droppings, the Golden Coo Pu, this may not reflect our favourite pigeon trait, but it's good luck if one lands on you! So the droppings are inspired by two themes: first, the elevation via this golden gift of the bird itself from its often vilified status, and of course the theme of good luck, in the form of a little piece of gold.
The colours reflect the plumage of the bird. The beak design also reflects the pigeon's urban environment: tied on with rubber string, this form is not unlike a party hat, a metaphor for the city weekend party lifestyle, and a night out on the town.
Coo bird is a celebration of our cities, representing two sides of them: sometimes run down but sometimes glorious, a pest but also of a creature of value. They are a story of finding beauty and humour in the everyday, in the forgotten, in our common humble pigeon and its good-luck golden droppings.’