This poster is for a film by National Geographic, documenting the search for the elusive and endangered Fiji Petrel which only exists on the island of Gau. The final concept features a striking scene from the film, showing two strong beams of light pointing towards the sky. The beams attract birds, and when researchers note a Fiji petrel, they attempt to guide it towards the research ship's deck by a smaller, handheld torch.
During the conceptualization stage, I explored embedding the Fiji petrel into the landscape to highlight it's symbolic significance to the Fijian territory. The indirect representation of the Fiji petrel also nodded to the difficulty of finding the bird, camouflaged against the dense forest and vast skies of Fiji. The island/bird concept is based on legends that say the Fijian petrel originate from a mysterious island called Burotukula that disappeared into the sea:
"Senijale the ravouvou ni (prince of) Muaigau was out on an expedition sailing into Lau waters when he fell asleep. Upon waking up the prince saw that he hand landed on a white and golden sandy beach. A young woman saw him and handed the young prince a senijale (gardenia) which is known to be one of the sweetest smelling flower in the country. It became the name by which the young prince is known on to this day — Senijale.
The young woman with an angelic voice, fascinating beauty, captivating figure and dazzling features captured the young prince’s attention and they began to court. After a while, the young woman agreed to marry the prince.
So the prince told his sweetheart that he would return to his island to bring his parents and traditionally propose and ask for her hand in marriage. When the prince had returned to Muaigau, he had brought with him sand, soil, and Kacau (Fijian Petrel) from the island of Burotukula. Sadly, women on the island of Burotukula were not allowed to get married and when their leader found out what had transpired she submerged the island. The prince never reunited with his island love."*
Concepts
