[Close Up]
Dyck is an artist who is also interested in environmental issues and has found a way to combine both her passions into one beautiful piece of work. She is mostly interested in the consequences of all living beings would experience if honey bees were to be extinct. The picture on the left shows how Dyck connects the elements of humans and bees together. Most of her bee work contains delicate sculptures using porcelain dolls, sports equipment and other ordinary objects. Dyck is able to collaborate her artwork with bees by placing these objects in a designated apiary.
In her interview with the Mason Journal, Dyck explains the process behind the bee work. Her process begins by going to a second hand market and searches for a slightly broken or damaged object. While observing honey bee's behavior, Dyck took notice that they are meticulous creatures. Dyck chooses damaged objects because honey bees mend anything in their surroundings. Over the past few years, Dyck has created her own method to communicate with the bees through trial and error. She draws the honey bee's attention to her objects by adding wax, honey, or handmade honeycomb patterns prior to placing them in the apiary. She is unsure if her methods truly work to communicate with the honey bees. However, it is true that the honey bees do recognize the objects and respond over time what was placed in their hive. This process takes days, weeks and even months for Dyck to be satisfied. After removing the object from the apiary, Dyck decides whether or not to leave the object as is or to shave the honeycomb down.
In her interview with the Mason Journal, Dyck explains the process behind the bee work. Her process begins by going to a second hand market and searches for a slightly broken or damaged object. While observing honey bee's behavior, Dyck took notice that they are meticulous creatures. Dyck chooses damaged objects because honey bees mend anything in their surroundings. Over the past few years, Dyck has created her own method to communicate with the bees through trial and error. She draws the honey bee's attention to her objects by adding wax, honey, or handmade honeycomb patterns prior to placing them in the apiary. She is unsure if her methods truly work to communicate with the honey bees. However, it is true that the honey bees do recognize the objects and respond over time what was placed in their hive. This process takes days, weeks and even months for Dyck to be satisfied. After removing the object from the apiary, Dyck decides whether or not to leave the object as is or to shave the honeycomb down.
[Bee Suit]
Dyck is not a qualified beekeeper but rents the colonies of honey bees and their hives from one. Ironically, Dyck is allergic to bees and wears a protective suit at all times while working with them. She is under complete direction of a scientist and beekeeper while collaborating with the honey bees. She is an artist who is invested in environmental issues and in interspecies communication. Her research and artworks gives hope to the future that one day we may be able to better communicate with other species.
Below is a video that goes behind the process of beekeeping and guest workers get to experience the process of how to create their own bee work. Also, listen to some inspiring words from Aganetha Dyck about her artwork.
Below is a video that goes behind the process of beekeeping and guest workers get to experience the process of how to create their own bee work. Also, listen to some inspiring words from Aganetha Dyck about her artwork.
