Mystical Aquatic Realms: Flying Beetles Unveiled

There are no changes made to the colours, no retouching or special effects applied to the image in post-production. From the very beginning I aim to set new parameters on research by restricting myself to the techniques of analog photography used since 1850; inspired by pioneers of photography such as Henry Peach Robinson, Édouard Baldus and Gustave Le Gray.
 

The original ‘Swarm’ series explores the subject of butterflies underwater in a hyper-real and painterly aesthetic created through interacting with the water's mechanics to paint the subject in light.  It acts as a reflection on life and mortality and how it is fleeting, beautiful and ultimately, tragic. The deep blues of these rare specimens against the black void of the water, with the bubble symbolising mortality in a vanitas for the modern day exploring the frailty of nature in an entirely new way. Here the same explorations occur but with beetles and other entomology specimens.
 

Captured on 5 by 4 and 8 by 10 inch analogue transparency film plates, each piece is not only a unique physical entity but embodies an unrepeatable moment of aesthetic efflorescence; representing the singular, ghostly event of artistic consummation performed through painterly liquid mechanics. 

Original like a sketch or painting, these one-off artworks reverse the conventional parameters of photographic works. Blurring the lines between sculpture, painting and photography. Existing only as a single piece of 8 x 10 inch acetate and one unique edition print.

A selection of these works were exhibited at  ‘Death of the dream’, an exhibition with Dellasposa Gallery, Piccadilly, London. Each was presented in a black cotton velvet frames, with UV balanced backlighting on a remote dimmer; lighting the exhibition space up with a collection of perfect jewel blue artworks. You can view the installation here, all 12 of these unique butterflies sold out during the exhibition.