Misha Donohoe is a watercolor artist trained in evolutionary biology who combines science and art to make detailed paintings. She makes enlarged paintings of endemic species of plants, thinking about the plants in depth and the larger ecosystem. During her time at KLRS, Misha conducted colour studies of Kluane landscapes, painting local plants such as mountain avens, lady’s slipper orchids, willows, and river beauties. She was very grateful to work on her artin such a beautiful place that has such a deep connection with people. Misha ran multiple workshops for the community, including a field sketching workshop at the station.
The information following, including the Noise series artwork description, was provided by Misha Donohoe.
Over the course of our entire human journey, birds have graced the skies above us.
I created the Noise series in 2024 as part of the exhibition, Silence (November 1-30, 2024). The exhibition invited viewers to notice the differences between conceptual abstractions of land and time, and connect this with embodied experiences of people, birds and others within a landscape.
Each bird represented in the Noise series sung a song on their annual migration through the Yukon territory. Four of these songs were recorded on site during my time as the artist-in-residence at the Kluane Lake Research Station (June 24 to July 8, 2024).
When songs like this are digitally produced, the charts are called sonograms. In choosing to represent time and sound with willow charcoal (Salix scouleriana willow) collected from a wildfire burn just outside of Whitehorse, I am working with the materiality of the landscape to suspend the acceleration of scientific data.
The series Noise documents an embodied, receptive and reflective experience of land and time, where the paintings stand as a record of the experience of listening, not just to a bird’s song but to the background noise as well. In the exhibition, Silence, I displayed a QR code next to each sonogram so that viewers could play the song aloud in the gallery. The label with the QR code also included the date and the longitude and latitude of the place where the song was heard.
Listen to this moment in time.
Listen to this moment in time.
Listen to this moment in time.
Listen to this moment in time.
© Misha Donohoe 2024
https://mishfish.art/ (or @mishfish.art if shared on social media)
All artworks are 6.0 in. X 18.0 in. (15.0 cm X 45.0 cm). Archival liquid charcoal and natural willow charcoal from the 2023 Takhini River burn on hosho paper (100% mulberry fiber, 70 gsm/47 lbs).
The Noise series was developed as part of the exhibition, Silence (1–30 November, 2024, Arts Underground, Whitehorse, Yukon). I would like to express my gratitude for the lands and watersheds that support us all. I also acknowledge the vision and leadership of Yukon First Nations peoples whose work has led to the protection and health of vital natural systems.
Creative works in the Silence exhibition were developed within the lands of the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, Kwanlin Dün First Nation, Teslin Tlingit Council, Kluane First Nation, Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, White River First Nation, Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation, Ross River Dena Council, Liard First Nation, First Nation of Na-cho Nyäk Dun and the people of the Dharawal and Dhurga language groups (Shoalhaven region, Australia).
This body of work was supported by passionate people and environmental-, science- and arts organisations, including: