Courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts
By Adam Arbisi
Splat, smack, squish and scream are all words usually associated with insects. But for Jennifer Angus, they represent art, murals, conservation and interpretation.
Angus is a modern day artist who uses exotic insects to create visual masterpieces. One might wonder why she chose this method to express herself. This can be answered by digging into her beginnings as an artist and a scholar, then seeing her work at “‘The Grasshopper and the Ant’ and Other Stories” exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts.
Curatorial assistant Erin Wilson explained how and why Angus used more than 5,000 dried, exotic bugs to build an exhibition that is part environmental statement and part fantasy world. The exhibition, which is based on a work in the museum’s permanent collection, is open through Jan. 5.
In the exhibition, there are insects climbing on the walls in various formations. Some are suspended in jelly jars, and others are “crawling” across dinner plates and pinned up to illustrate the seven deadly sins.
Each room of the exhibition was designed to evoke a different feeling. This is the largest exhibition that Angus, who teaches art at The University of Wisconsin-Madison, has ever mounted. It was commissioned by the Museum of Fine Arts.
While self-interpretation is key, Angus makes it clear that conservation is a strong message being conveyed. Docents, during tours of the exhibit, share facts about the importance of insects in our ecosystem. Wilson, a curatorial assistant, said “without bees, human life as we know it would cease to exist in four days.”
Wilson and the MFA docents offer valuable insights into Angus’ work that may be difficult for casual observers to realize on their own. Despite personal interpretation being a large focus of the exhibit, it is beneficial to have a docent explain in depth what each piece might signify.
Ever since she was a child, Angus has been fascinated with nature and the environment. With that passion in mind, she set out to discover the world and pursue her interests. She has a bachelor’s degree from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and a master’s from the Art Institute of Chicago. Her global travels fostered her passion for art and the environment.
Angus noticed the exotic insects at all the places she visited. She thought of how she could use her skills to display their beauty and her passion. It was this culmination that eventually led to the creation of “‘The Grasshopper and the Ant’ and Other Stories.” The exhibition is an artistic showcase consisting entirely of insects found during her travels.
The exhibition is unique to the Museum of Fine Arts and will not be shown anywhere else. The artist changes the exhibit to reflect a piece of work at each location.
Upon entering the exhibit, one is enclosed in a tight hallway with insects sealed in jars. Each jar is handmade from all-natural materials. Down the hallway, a large open room appears with ceilings over two stories tall. Covered wall-to-wall are murals created solely out of exotic insects. Angus’ preferred insects of choice are the cicada and grasshopper.
Wilson explained that Angus has spent over 20 years carefully collecting and purchasing exotic insects in order to create her exhibits. No insect is ever wasted, and, if broken, every insect is re-utilized in another form of her exhibit.
The theme of conservation is highlighted throughout the room. On the wall hangs a cuckoo clock deemed “the Doomsday Clock,” which signifies the destruction of our environment and the importance of conservation.
Note cards placed underneath some murals have brief quotes that allow the viewer to interpret each mural on their own. Angus places the interpretation on the viewer, stating that “there are no right answers” when viewing the exhibit.
Jennifer Angus’ “‘The Grasshopper and the Ant’ and Other Stories” is in the Hazel Hough Gallery at the Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg, 255 Beach Dr. NE, through Jan. 5. For information about hours, tickets and other programming in conjunction with the show, go to mfastpete.org.
An “environmental statement” that involves creatures who were killed. Geez….