Guide Note

Belgian performance artist Benjamin Verdonck made headlines in May 2008 when he built a large bird's nest on the side of a skyscraper in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

As part of a project called "The Great Swallow," Verdonck sat in his nest for several days looking down at a giant egg he'd placed in the street below.¹

Fast Facts

1. Rotterdam nest built in May 2008
2. Nest located at Rotterdam Weena Tower¹
3. Constructed in six weeks²
4. Materials used: twigs, sand, straw bales, glue and polyurethane foam²
5. Video of nest stunt popular on YouTube
6. Verdonck built similar nest in Birmingham, England in 2005³

"The performance represents the struggle of a man who wants to embrace the public, but in doing so must eventually fall out of the nest."—Verdonck spokesperson¹

"I really long for small-scale actions and then preferably actions bordering on illegality."—Bernard Verdonck¹