Repetition 2008-2010
-
Four Hornet Studies. Ink and graphite on paper, glass lens. Installation view at the Pen Museum, Birmingham, 2014 -
Flying Insects Collection 2. Graphite and watercolour 100 x 70 cm -
Fly Collection (89). Graphite 70 x 50 cm -
Bee and Fly Collection Graphite and watercolour 38 x 29 cm -
Fly studies 3. Graphite and watercolour 15 x 10 cm -
Flying Insects 1. Graphite and watercolour 74 x 46 cm -
Flying Insects 3. Graphite and watercolour 70 x 50 cm -
Flying Insects 4. Graphite and watercolour 40 x 40 cm -
Fly Collection (square) Graphite and watercolour 35 x 35 cm -
Fish and Fly Collection. Graphite and watercolour 100 x 70 cm -
Bee and fly Collection 2 Copper etching 15 x 10 cmCopper etching -
Bee and fly Collection 1 Copper etching 7 x10 cm -
Fly Collection 1 Copper etching 10 x 5 cm -
Fly Collection 2 Copper etching 10 x 10 cm -
Fly Collection 3 Copper etching 10 x 7 cm
Research
Exploring museum entomological collections I was interested in the tendency of the museums to include, for many pragmatic reasons, only the most perfect or rare specimens within their collections. My own studies of found insects have not been prepared for exhibition and remain twisted, crooked, less than perfect.
Process
These images are part of a large series of direct observation insect studies, made using a magnifying lens to study everyday found specimens. Repeated observation of similar specimens parallel the repetition of the insect display as a tool of investigation.
Some studies are drawn with graphite and watercolour on paper, others are inscribed directly onto the wax ground of a prepared copper etching plate. A needle similar to those used to pin insects in the display of collections is used to draw into the wax ground. The quality of line is further developed by the mordant in which the copper plate is later submerged, and by the subsequent inking up process.