If this pandemic has taught us anything it is the necessity to focus down. Looking at things in a global context is too overwhelming.
I began this Handshake journey wanting to change the world, to increase awareness of the importance of insects for the world’s survival, thinking about big things like biodiversity vulnerability and loss. Then, as time went on, I wanted to focus on our native insects, their importance and uniqueness. Now I find myself just wanting to help each individual make it through their lifecycle, whether they be native or not, beneficial or not, beautiful or not. A metaphor ? Perhaps.
It feels like everything is so vulnerable right now. I guess it was always this way, but somehow world events (arguably as a result of our misuse of nature) have led me to appreciate and value the individual so much more. Everyone and everything (cue my tendency for anthropomorphising) needs to feel held, supported, seen, and appreciated. To be noticed and cared for, cherished and worthy.
I guess I was beginning to do this at a subconscious level last year with my work in the Handshake exhibition in Wellington in October. Made up of hundreds of individually cut out and pinned insects, my work formed a mass of insects that took a human form. That form was traced around my daughter, a deeply personal connection, which talked about the importance of the individual as well as the collective.
During the making process I took time to appreciate each cutout, each species, each 2 dimensional object as it emerged from the sandpaper sheet and was pinned into a collective swarm. The significance of each as a part of something bigger. What surprised me was how the making and the pinning was far more essential to the work than the finished product. Sitting on the floor of the gallery for hours, assembling and pinning, became performative. Looking back I now understand that this was the essence of what I was trying to say, trying to communicate. Slow making. Consideration of each component. The repetitive actions, a meditative activity. Focussing on the little things, the value of the individual.
This now becomes the raw material for the next iteration – Held.
I find myself considering the basic needs for survival of the individual. What we all require to complete our lifecycle successfully (and what that means). Shelter. Food. A friend or two. The importance of feeling held, being seen. All this translated into an artwork – how hard can that be?! Watch this (liminal) space…..