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As artist Aganetha Dyck says, her sculptures show “the power of the small, instead of something gigantic like an elephant….” What makes Dyck’s work unique is that much of it involves an unusual contributor: honey bees. Utilizing these small creatures of nature, Dyck makes her art not only to reflect on human existence in an abstract sense, but also to draw attention to our place in the environment.

Throughout her career, Dyck has used the honeycomb construction of the bees to alter the surfaces of commonplace objects, from shoes and helmets to, more recently, porcelain figurines. The direct contrast of these material creations to something organic immediately elicits a meditation on mankind’s interaction with the natural world.

Conducting her own research, Dyck was struck by the impact that the small bees carry in nature and the consequences of their elimination from the ecosystem. Honeybees, under the threat of extinction, and the importance of pollination are commonly underestimated in their role in nature. By partnering with honey bees, Dyck celebrates them and the other, often forgotten, facets of nature that are necessary for existence.

The combination of the two media also sparks an interesting question of art and what it means for an object to be a work of art. If it weren’t for the fantastical honeycomb structures, would these objects find themselves in a gallery at all? Humans are often considered the true masters of art, and art is an aspect that is used to distinguish us from the rest of nature. It takes a high level of intelligence and consciousness to create a stimulating piece of work, thus we can’t expect it from animals in the natural world, i.e. honey bees.

This series contradicts such a train of thought by expanding traditional art to include the functional beauty that has existed far before cave paintings decorated primitive homes. Alone, these objects could litter anyone’s home and remain unremarkable, but it’s the physical conversation with nature that makes these objects provocative. The untamed, organic structures of honeycomb enhance the polished plastic and porcelain in a way a person can’t imitate.

The natural environment functions at its full potential when the higher beings interact with the lesser. It’s not one or the other; it’s collaboration, just like these pieces of art.

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