In a City of Flowers
Soft wood and recycled wood, concrete bases, refurbished video and audio technology.
Experience the magic of holding a butterfly.
“In a City of Flowers” is an interactive installation composed of 12 small wooden houses hosting holographic butterflies. Intrigued by the flapping of wings, the viewer is invited to gently slide their hand inside to hold a butterfly in the hollow of their palm. The sensation feels tactile and real, even though the image is a visual illusion.
It is a moment of intimacy and fragility that reminds us of our connection and our responsibility towards the natural world, and invites us to question what a “home” truly is for a butterfly.
Some of the butterfly species presented are extinct in the UK, such as the Large Copper and the Black Veined White; others are still thriving, such as the Cabbage Butterfly; and others are migratory species that come and go with the fluctuations of the Earth’s climate, such as the Painted Lady. Each one is closely linked to the plant species in its habitat that provide food and shelter, with some feeding only on specific plants.
Faced with the decline of numerous species due to pollution, climate change, and habitat loss, this work is a poignant reminder of the vital importance of preserving our spaces, both rural and urban, by conserving and planting wildflowers and local species, and of acting as guardians for the environment.