The highly anticipated sequel to The Silence of the Lens by the acclaimed video artist

Birdsong brings together three video works by David Claerbout – The Woodcarver and the Forest, Birdcage and Backwards Growing Tree – each a meditation on time, perception and the poetics of the natural world. In an era dominated by speed and distraction, Claerbout reclaims the longue durée*, offering a contemplative, detoxed form of filmmaking.
*Editor’s note: ‘longe durée’ is artspeak for the analysis which examines deep-rooted structures and processes, such as demographic shifts, climate change, and economic cycles, that operate over a long period of time.)

Accompanied by a poem by Stefan Hertmans, this volume explores the myths of digitisation, the rhythms of nature, growth and degrowth. Birdsong is a visual journey through the imaging ideas that the artist has developed over the past decade. With countless film stills from a previously unreleased video, this publication offers a unique insight into the artist’s working process.

This publication coincides with Claerbout’s exhibition At the window at Gaasbeek Castle from 27 June until 16 November 2025.
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AT THE WINDOW
Location: Gaasbeek Castle
Address: Kasteelstraat 40 – 1750 Gaasbeek 
Date: 27 June to 16 November 2025
Website:  https://www.kasteelvangaasbeek.be/en

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BIRDSONG
David Claerbout & Stefan Hertmans
Published by Hannibal Books: https://hannibalbooks.be/en/birdsong
Hardcover – 128 pages – 30 × 24,5 cm – €49
Trilingual edition (English – Dutch – French) – ISBN 978 94 9341 615 4