Bee – yond Us – The ‘U’ in Unity
Beads, Magiclay and Felt
3cm x 25cm
Humans protect what they perceive as precious and beautiful. By bedazzling my bees, I promote their value, framing them as jewelled treasures with human-like faces to evoke empathy.
During June/July, the time between the end of the Spring flowering and the beginning of the Autumn flowering, bees become vulnerable. This artwork highlights our role in their survival. You can help by mixing two parts sugar to one part water and offering the syrup to the bee. You’ll see her little black tongue as she drinks, converting the syrup to energy within 10 minutes and she will fly away if you’ve helped her in time. This feeling is joyous.
While bees cannot thank you, I extend thanks on their behalf, celebrating our shared responsibility. This artwork fosters an understanding of the fragile connection between us, emphasising that their survival is linked to our well-being and the balanced ecosystem.
Tyger-Tyger
Ceramics
45cm x 30cm x 20cm
My sculpture explores the relationship between humans and animals, drawing attention to issues of animal exploitation. Inspired by the words of Professor Goodall, this artwork seeks to embody her call for a shift in perspectives to instigate change. The artwork displays two figures: a felted human face emerging from a ceramic tiger skin and a felted tiger face emerging from a ceramic human skin. By juxtaposing images and using association, I evoke empathy for the plight of the tiger (a symbol for animals) in this cruel world. The human wearing the tiger skin highlights the troubling connection to practices like taxidermy, where animals are hunted for their skin. The contrast between the human’s collared shirt and tie and the tiger’s chain collar highlights the power dynamics of man and animal. The ambiguous title, “Tyger-Tyger,” reflects the duality of creation and poses challenging questions about the nature of God and the coexistence of vulnerability and fierceness.