Wood-boring Beetles (Series 2: Metamorphosis)

This artwork is the third and final piece of the series called Metamorphosis. This series is comprised of both decorated and undecorated rocks which are placed alongside treasured items from my childhood used to set scenes when playing make-believe. 

Wood-boring Beetle (2020) is a site-specific installation, assembled on the bookshelves in what was my bedroom in my childhood home. The piece was arranged through prioritising the differences between the materiality of the books and the materiality of the rocks. This obvious contrast between the art objects, natural materials and nostalgic items creates the appearance of the installation being in flux.

The books on the bookshelves becomes representative of my middle childhood, a period of change and transition, a confusing time where I was torn between wanting to imagine fictional scenarios I read about and societal norms. The undecorated rocks are placed amongst the painted rocks, which seem at home within these charming staged scenes, creating a juxtaposition which was very much felt at this period within my life.

In this way, the undecorated rocks are representative of the desire to nurture my own creativity during a time when I was taught that play was no longer a socially acceptable escapist method.

Once again, the decorated rocks within this series are representative of me within my current time and place, the therapeutic process of creating these unique entities allowing me to adapt and modify the rituals which allow me to rediscover an appropriate method of holding onto my child-like imagination.