While many of Miki’s depictions of fauna are abstracted almost to the point where identification of species is difficult if not impossible, his sculptures of birds seem to be the exception to the rule. This wonderful Resting Bird is a nice counterpoint to his Bird in Flight from our July 2020 sale (Lot 3). Rather than depicted with wings extended, this charming creature is shown in comfortable repose. These two works, along with Animal from c. 1969 (see Zepp, Pure Vision, cat. 9) feature pedestal-like bases which are seamlessly integrated into the composition. There is a purity of line in Resting Bird that gives the sculpture a sense of casual elegance.

References: For a contemporaneous and similarly balanced figure of an animal by Miki see Norman Zepp, Pure Vision: The Keewatin Spirit (Regina: Norman Mackenzie Art Gallery, 1986), cat. 9, p. 67. For other birds in the same catalogue see cats. 6, 7, 12.