2025
London
Two pieces selected by Stephanie Macdonald RA and Tom Emerson RA for The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 17th June - 17th August, Gallery VI at Burlington House Main Galleries, London, W1J 0BD. Tuesday - Sunday: 10am-6pm and Friday: 10am-9pm.
59 Bee Cut-Outs
11 Bee Cut-Outs
Gallery VI Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
Archival Giclee Print of 11 rose leaf cut-outs and 59 rose leaf cut-outs gathered by the Leaf-Cutter Bee for designing and building nursery chambers for her young.
I came across the leaf cut-outs whilst collecting material for another project, I was intrigued by the clipped leaves, some perfect circular forms and some oblong. Each leaf a mini work of art created by the female leaf-cutter bee. She works with such strength to-ing and fro-ing cutting with her teeth and carrying pieces in flight much larger than herself. I found leaves with one cut-out, two cut-outs, three cut-outs and even four cut-outs, some with hardly any leaf left and some cuts not completed.
I understand that the larger oblong cut-outs are for building the walls of the family cells and the round shapes are the doors, used for sealing up the ends of the nurseries to protect the young over the winter months. Leaf-cutter bees are not only world class pollinators, they are accomplished up-cyclers creating architectural masterpieces in rotting wood, empty beetle holes, snail shells and man made holes in buildings.
Edition of 59 available and edition of 11 available, visit :-https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/summer-exhibition-2025