The Birds Archives (2024-2025)
In her ongoing project, The Birds Archives, Karolina Dema is creating a series of A4 oil paintings on paper, aiming to depict all 11,145 bird species cataloged by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Presented here are the first 105 bird paintings already created.
The Birds Archives deals with collective memory, questioning what is preserved and handed down to future generations. As species vanish, what remains of their legacy? By uniting them in her paintings, Karolina creates a dynamic representation of our planet's ornithological landscape at a time of increasing extinction rates. Their memory is preserved through this gallery of portraits.
The 11,145 species that Karolina seeks to portray include now-extinct birds, species living in the wild where some face near-extinction, and human-made breeds - domesticated birds like roosters, geese, parrots, falcons, pigeons, and canaries, to name a few. To that end, the Birds Archives exposes the extent of Sapiens' modified environment, starting with the birds that surround them on a daily basis. Original source materials for the Birds Archives come from various encyclopaedia, to which Karolina has since added contributions from online bird societies from all over the world.
The Birds Archives are currently displayed for the 1rst time in the Birds Room, as part of Demo Dema’s show A ROOM FULL OF SIGNS. Th Get in touch for a virtual visit of the show: info@demodema.com
#1 Common Shelduck, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#2 Ruddy Shelduck, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7 cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#3 Nene (Hawaiian Goose), Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7 cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#4 Domestic Goose, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#5 Gray Junglefowl, Karolina Dema & Virgile Demo, oil painting on paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024-2025 ©Demo Dema
#6 Cape Barren Goose, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#7 Crimson-Rumped Toucanet, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#8 Keel-Billed Toucan, Karolina Dema, oil paint on paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#9 Chestnut-Eared Aracari, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#10 Southern Brown Kiwi, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#11 Female Mallard, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#12 Chinese Goose, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm 2024 ©Demo Dema
#13 Graylag Goose, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#14 White-Faced Whistling Duck, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#15 Mandarin Duck, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#16 Wood Ducks, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#17 Indian Spot-Billed Duck, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#18 Emperor Penguin, Karolina Dema & Virgile Demo, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024-2025 ©Demo Dema
#19 Macaroni Penguin, Karolina Dema, oil paint on paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#20 Mute Swan, Karolina Dema, oil paint on paper, (250g), 21 x 29.7cm 2024 ©Demo Dema
#21 Black Swan, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper, 21 x 29.7cm (250g), 2024 ©Demo Dema
#22 Coscoroba Swan, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper, 21 x 29.7cm (250g), 2024 ©Demo Dema
#23 Blyth’s Targopan, Karolina Dema & Virgile Demo, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 -2025 ©Demo Dema
#24 Eurasian Magpie, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper, 21 x 29.7cm (250g), 2024 ©Demo Dema
#25 Western Crowned Pigeon, Karolina Dema & Virgile Demo, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 -2025 ©Demo Dema
#26 Tufted Duck, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper, 21 x 29.7cm (250g), 2024 ©Demo Dema
#27 Red Crested Pochard, Karolina Dema & Virgile Demo, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 -2025 ©Demo Dema
#28 Common Pochard, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#29 Ferruginous Duck, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#30 Magnificent Bird of Paradise, Karolina Dema, oil paint on paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm,, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#31 Raggiana Bird of Paradise, Karolina Dema, oil paint on paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#32 Budgerigar, Karolina Dema, oil paint on paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#33 Great Blue Heron, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#34 Red & Green Macaw, Karolina Dema, oil paint on paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#35 Little Egret, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#36 Black Stork, Karolina Dema, oil paint on paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#37 Squacco Heron, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#38 Arctic Tern, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#39 Golden Pheasant, Karolina Dema, oil paint on paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#40 Golden Pheasant, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#41 Indian White Peafowl, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#42 Steller's Jay, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper(250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#43 Indian Peafowl, Karolina Dema, oil paint on paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#44 Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#45 Resplendent Quetzal, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#46 Common Kingfisher, Karolina Dema & Virgile Demo, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 -2025 ©Demo Dema
#47 Lady Amherst's Pheasant, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#48 Long-Tailed Rooster, Karolina Dema & Virgile Demo, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 -2025 ©Demo Dema
#49 Ocellated Turkey, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#50 Yellow-Billed Magpie, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm 2024 ©Demo Dema
#51 Blue Jay, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#52 Wattled Jacana, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#53 Curlew, Karolina Dema, oil paint on paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#54 Little Stint, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#55 Velvet Fronted Nutatch, Karolina Dema, oil paint on paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#56 Golden-backed Weaver, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#57 Picathartes Rockfowl, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#58 White Bellied Flycatcher, Karolina Dema, oil paint on paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#59 Black-Legged Kittiwake, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#60 Whiskered Tern, Karolina Dema & Virgile Demo, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 -2025 ©Demo Dema
#61 Masked Bowerbird, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#62 Marshtit, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#63 White Stork, Karolina Dema & Virgile Demo, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 -2025 ©Demo Dema
#64 Purple Heron, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#65 Golden-Headed Quetzal, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#66 Great White Pelican, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#67 European Shag, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#68 African Darter, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#69 Snowy Albatros, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#70 Common Crane, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#71 Eurasian Nuthatch, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#72 Eurasian Blue Tit, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#73 Little Blue Heron, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#74 Eurasian Kestrel, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#75 Male Mallard, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm 2024 ©Demo Dema
#76 White Cockatoo, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#77 Greater Bird of Paradise, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#78 Lesser Bird of Paradise , Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#79 Crowned Crane, Karolina Dema & Virgile Demo, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 -2025 ©Demo Dema
#80 Red Junglefowl, Karolina Dema, oil paint on paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#81 Inca Tern, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#82 Green Jay, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#83 Rufous Hummingbird, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#84 Volcano Hummingbird, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#85 Atlantic Puffin, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm 2024 ©Demo Dema
#86 Red Crowned Crane, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#87 Pied Kingfisher, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#88 Barn Swallow, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#89 Little Owl, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#90 Western Screech Owl, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#91 Eurasian Hoopoe, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
92. Venezuelan Troupial, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#93 Blue Whistling Thrush, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#94 Brown Sicle Bill, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#95 Saddle-Bill Stork, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#96 Black Shama, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#97 Short Toed Treecreeper, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#98 Bearded Reedling, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#99 Red Factor Canary, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#100 Yellow Canary, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#101 Blue Budgerigar, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#102 Eurasian Spoonbill, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#103 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#104 Mute Swan, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema
#105 Black Winged Pratincole, Karolina Dema, Oil Paint on Paper (250g), 21 x 29.7cm, 2024 ©Demo Dema