Cross Pollination is an Arts and Humanities Research Council funded Networking project that aims to bring Art and Science together to produce creative art projects that explore and promote the crisis facing pollinators and to influence policy decision making.I was invited to be part of the project and subsequently made a number of works. The works were shown at the National Botanical Garden of Wales and the Bug Farm, St. Davids. As part of the project I also conducted a short residency with fellow artist Sarah Tombs at the McArt Lab at Cornell University.
"Intensive farming, habitat destruction, biodiversity loss and climate change across the world has resulted in a widespread decline of pollinators. There is evidence to suggest that the ways in which pollinators are perceived and valued has significant implications for their conservation. This project, Cross-pollination, will provide the opportunity for artists, art researchers, scientists, environmental linguists, specialists in economic evaluation of bio-diversity and environmental decision makers to share ideas, discuss values, and develop strategies for inter-disciplinary research and dissemination, with a particular focus on pollination decline".
The project is led by the University of Wales Trinity Saint David in partnership with Aberystwyth University and the National Botanic Garden of Wales. The ultimate aim is to contribute towards the protection of our pollinators. More about the project can be found here (https://crosspollinationartsciencecollaboration.wordpress.com)
"Intensive farming, habitat destruction, biodiversity loss and climate change across the world has resulted in a widespread decline of pollinators. There is evidence to suggest that the ways in which pollinators are perceived and valued has significant implications for their conservation. This project, Cross-pollination, will provide the opportunity for artists, art researchers, scientists, environmental linguists, specialists in economic evaluation of bio-diversity and environmental decision makers to share ideas, discuss values, and develop strategies for inter-disciplinary research and dissemination, with a particular focus on pollination decline".
The project is led by the University of Wales Trinity Saint David in partnership with Aberystwyth University and the National Botanic Garden of Wales. The ultimate aim is to contribute towards the protection of our pollinators. More about the project can be found here (https://crosspollinationartsciencecollaboration.wordpress.com)
Artifice
Artificial plants have become ubiquitous objects in our everyday environment; synthetic topiary balls seem almost omnipresent and can be readily found outside shops, offices, flats and public houses.
The growing trend towards artificial plants and synthetic grass has become a source of consternation for me. The Cross Pollination project allowed me to situate these concerns into a wider context. There can be no doubt that retail sales of artificial plants and grass are directly undermining much of the advocacy work surrounding the importance of pollinators.
Artifice consists of a number of absurd and fictitious pollen forms created from artificial plants and synthetic grass. The work references the prevalence of these plastic forms in our everyday environment and a perceived shift in our relationship to nature. The work aims to problematise this relationship.
The growing trend towards artificial plants and synthetic grass has become a source of consternation for me. The Cross Pollination project allowed me to situate these concerns into a wider context. There can be no doubt that retail sales of artificial plants and grass are directly undermining much of the advocacy work surrounding the importance of pollinators.
Artifice consists of a number of absurd and fictitious pollen forms created from artificial plants and synthetic grass. The work references the prevalence of these plastic forms in our everyday environment and a perceived shift in our relationship to nature. The work aims to problematise this relationship.
Shimmer Wall
This work is inspired by research conducted at The Bee Lab, University of Bristol. Following a visit to the Bee Lab, I was particularly interested in their work on structural iridescence and the investigation into the role it played in pollination. Essentially, flowers were using iridescence as a way of ‘advertising’ themselves and attracting pollinators.
As part of the research process, the team at the Bee Lab made small iridescent discs that were created by making casts of petals using epoxy resin.These were then put into a 'flight arena' in order to test the bees attraction to them.
Following the process used at the Bee Lab, I cast a large number of resin discs using moulds made from numerous large flowers. Reminiscent of old advertising signs, I then used these discs to create a Shimmer Wall.
'It has been exciting to see the direction the artists have taken the techniques we employ in the Bee Lab to demonstrate the concepts we are investigating'. Mike Harrap, Researcher at the Bee Lab.
As part of the research process, the team at the Bee Lab made small iridescent discs that were created by making casts of petals using epoxy resin.These were then put into a 'flight arena' in order to test the bees attraction to them.
Following the process used at the Bee Lab, I cast a large number of resin discs using moulds made from numerous large flowers. Reminiscent of old advertising signs, I then used these discs to create a Shimmer Wall.
'It has been exciting to see the direction the artists have taken the techniques we employ in the Bee Lab to demonstrate the concepts we are investigating'. Mike Harrap, Researcher at the Bee Lab.