Enduring Fragility - Sculpture

Enduring Fragility

This sculpture was made several years ago. I was inspired after learning about the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly that lives in Northern New South Wales and South East Queensland. It is in danger of extinction due to the limited diet of its caterpillars. The plants they live on are being destroyed as more and more land is cleared for housing developments. I also researched the flight paths of butterflies. Their appearance of fragility has always fascinated me as I have watched them struggle to fly on windy days. I admire their strength.

The male of the species is a beautiful colour - a bluey green that cannot be described in words. At the time I was fascinated by the way Monet used two pure colours in his Impressionist works and allowed the eye to mix the colours rather than mixing the colours on the palette.

I set about trying to replicate that idea in thread and this sculpture is the result. I used turqouise on the top and a cool yellow/lemon in the bobbin and stitched the lace in small pieces that are similar to a butterfly's wings which tend to disintegrate when they are touched. Sometime the lace looks green, sometimes it looks blue and sometimes it seems to be yellow. I had the metal "flight path" welded and spray painted. All the tiny lace swatches were stitched together and attached to the metal and wire frame.

It was great fun and recently I came across a school that seems to be as fascinated by the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly as I am. The students have planted their school yard with the vine that sustains the caterpillars. Maybe there is hope for this species after all?