Birdcages and the Freedom of Thought

Self-development

11 Sept

Written By Quinn

Patty Maher is a fine art and wedding photographer based in Caledon, Ontario, Canada. Maher began her journey with photography as recently as 2010 and has since achieved international recognition for her work. The faces of her models are frequently obscured to retain an open-ended narrative so the viewer can more easily find their own meaning in the symbolic imagery. It's highly likely Maher's formal education in English literature helped shape her approach to photography and honed her ability to show, and not tell, the kind of stories she can capture.

Caged Bird is an old photograph from around 2012; although, despite its title, I can see no birds in cages. The image features a modestly dressed young woman standing centrally in the picture space in the middle of a single railway track. Wearing a long scarlet-red dress, she stands with her back to the camera and holds a bird cage on top of her head. Another cage is strategically placed a few feet behind her. Three crows can be seen hovering in the dull blue sky further down the track. The vegetation is still heavily bare from winter, although some signs of regrowth are showing. The tonal range is relatively narrow except for a dark band of trees across the horizon. The railway track disappears into the vanishing point, the view of which is obstructed by the woman's presence.

The photograph was likely taken in early May before the leaves came back. This gives us an essential symbolic reference point for something in the early stages of development. For those of you who are drawn to the image, it suggests a situation that has just begun; it's the early days of a new journey. Because we have only one person in the photo, we are looking at a situation involving the self alone. The image likely represents something connected to the soul's journey.

Railway tracks directly relate to trains; here, we have our symbolic reference to a journey. The absence of trains and reliance on walking could suggest a few things. First, we may have to slow down if we're used to moving quickly. We may benefit from walking on established paths, tracks have been laid before us, and if we continue walking, we're bound to reach a destination sooner or later. Or does it suggest there simply isn't another path at this moment? A single track can also imply a need to be single-minded until we arrive at the next junction or station. Unless the track is disused, there is a possibility of a train coming at a later stage and being able to speed up progress. For now, the direction is laid out, and we must put one foot in front of the other. Another thought is how trains are for multiple passengers. The woman walks alone, which throws more light on a message for the soul self rather than one about relationships or relating.

Traditionally, birds represent ideas and thoughts, and there is often a suggestion of the concept of freedom thrown in for good measure. Birds can do what humans can only do with assistance; they can fly. The number three has long since held a religious significance to the holy trinity of God, father, and son. In modern astrology, the number three is linked to the planet Jupiter which symbolically represents our higher mind, our beliefs, and our overall perspective.

Cages are always a sign of restricted movement and often have an underlying negative connotation. I want to draw your attention to the position of the birdcages and what this could suggest symbolically. Because she holds a cage above the head, I wonder if there is a belief-based problem. The cage behind her could suggest that restrictive ideas or beliefs were discarded in the past. A cage around the head would symbolise trapped ideas or a restrictive way of thinking, but placed above the head could further emphasise the higher mind already mentioned in association with the three birds. The fact she holds onto the cage could indicate holding onto a perspective or outdated ideas.

The woman's dress can be seen as symbolic of life force and energy. Shades of red indicate passion, power, and vigour. This could suggest that the woman has plenty of energy to make the journey. She is standing still; is she experiencing a pause because she doesn't have the right mindset to continue? Is she hoping to collect her thoughts? Which would be symbolised by the birds returning to the cage. Or did she only recently release the ideas but not yet have time to discard the outworn belief system behind them?

I remember a time when I would often dream of trains and railway tracks. I also remember my old therapist telling me, "sometimes you have to wait for the right train". This image doesn't appear to suggest waiting, but it does imply a need for stillness. If the woman is the 'caged bird' of the title, everything in the picture points to her being able to free herself. All she has to do is drop the cage behind her. The image further indicates this is not a new process for her; she has discarded restrictions in her past already. Overall, I feel it's a hopeful scene; while it implies current limitations, there are strong indications that freedom will be achieved.

I have finished this post a long time after I began writing; it was left half-finished in draft for the best part of three years. At the time, I was drawn to this image because it was the third random prompt in a short space of time. I'd redecorated my bedroom with birdcages on the wallpaper, and someone close had just moved into an apartment that had actual live caged birds. The birds on my wallpaper were outside the cages, something I found hugely significant at the time. I had no idea of the birds in the apartment at the time of decorating. And I couldn't tell him I'd just stuck birds and cages on my walls when he first mentioned the live birds a couple of weeks later. This image appeared in my newsfeed a few days after that, and I took it as a prompt to do some soul searching.

Shoving personal stuff aside, I must remember that context always matters. Are those cages indoors or outside? Are the birds inside or outside the cage? Are the birds simply an image, or are they alive with broken wings? I should also not forget that freedom is sometimes illusory and often relative. Thinking about it now, those birds may not even represent the woman's thoughts; they could portray other people's opinions or new ideas. Perhaps they're the sign she's been waiting for that says freedom is in sight. In the opening paragraph, I mentioned how Patty often obscures the model’s face so the viewer can find their own meaning. I can see several aspects of this image that are open-ended, making it a fantastic picture to spend time analysing. How you see things will not reveal any ultimate truth but will almost certainly show you something about your current circumstances.

Thanks to Patty for confirming when the photo was taken.

Links:

Patty Maher’s Website

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