Folded

I love the peaceful moment when I get up early in the morning before everyone else is awake, and it’s just me and the sounds from outside. I’m happy I don’t live in a place where I wake up hearing cars flash outside my window, and instead I can hear the birds brightly singing their morning songs. This act has immensely guided me to practice my gratitude, it has been an amazing booster for my mental well-being, and has always helped me craft a positive and productive day for myself. The Swedes have a word for this and call it ‘Gökotta’ – describing the act of rising in the early morning to hear the birds sing and to appreciate nature.

Reflecting on this word, I have created a hanging mobile made out of paper, string, and wood. Featuring illustrations of the birds I usually see in my garden – wood pigeons, collared doves, blackbirds, sparrows, blue tits, wrens, and so on. I decided a mobile was the best form to create this in because of the structure, giving the illustrated birds movement and displaying their liveliness before the rest of the world is awake.