Sculpted by Larvae: The Experiments of Hubert Duprat

As the effects of human industry threaten our planet with pollution, climate change, and existential crises, both the science and art worlds have begun looking to nature for more efficient and environmentally friendly ways to create technology, as well as ways to rediscover the beauty in natural systems.  A growing number of scientists and engineers study natural processes to guide their design, while a corresponding number of artists and architects such as Andy Goldsworthy and Benjamin Aranda and Chris Lasch create work that brings direct attention to the beauty and complexity of natural systems.

French artist Herbert Duprat turns this idea of using natural processes in engineering and art on its head in his work with caddisfly larvae (Trichoptera).  Duprat took several caddisflies from their natural habitat and placed them in tanks filled with gold flakes and precious stones.  Caddisflies, who are often found in stream beds, are known for the protective cases they form around their bodies from pebbles, twigs, or sand.  When placed in a tank with flakes of gold and gemstones, the caddis flies simply created their protective sheaths from these materials instead.

The resulting structures are strikingly gorgeous, but confounding to see surrounding a hairy water bug.  Who, in fact, is the artist?  Is it Duprat, or is it the fly?  Is this even art?  Duprat brilliantly exploits a natural process, showing both the complexity of nature as well as questioning how we judge beauty.  And this is exactly why Duprat's work is art, because it challenges our ideas about the man made and the natural not through a chain of reasoning, but by our personal reaction to his images.

Both images are from Cabinet Magazine, where you can read more about Duprat's work with caddisflies.  Also see Genetologic Research and Leonardo On-Line for an interview with Duprat and more information on Trichoptera.

Comments

[Joyce]

Yikes, these are beautiful! And you may remember that I have earrings made by caddisfly larvae, from the biologists/artists at http://wildscape.com/about-us.aspx I wonder if the weight of the gold impedes the insects from living their normal larva lives?? And what he does with the cases afterwards?? I'll click on the links and try to find out.

[Fredrick]

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