Evolutionary adaption has enabled insects to change to suit their environment over time, including an ability to blend in with their surroundings. Camouflage is imperative to their survival. While they often blend into foliage and natural environments, what if they lived in a sewing box? Or a bookcase?

Through my project, titled Leaf-ish Insects, I have explored leaf insects as jewellery-based objects, inspired by my immediate surroundings during the Coronavirus pandemic. Taking influence from materials such as haberdashery and fabric, I imagined my ‘Lace-ish insects’ living in grandma’s doily collection or even in trees that sprout lace — not unlike Walt Disney’s Alice in Wonderland films from 1951 and 2010.

Insects are commonly studied and researched by pinning and preserving specimens. My final works liberally incorporate pins to reference and pay homage to this practice. This allows for explorations of context and how it may evoke responses to representations of living things as objects.

Patterned Insect (Image 1), 2020
Brass, fabric
120mm x 90mm x 5mm

Patterned Insect (Image 2), 2020
Brass, fabric
120mm x 90mm x 5mm

Shot of inspiration materials, 2020
Various materials: paint, copper, plastics, paper, organics, fabrics

Fabric-ish Insect, 2020
Copper, steel, cotton fabric, cotton thread, mod podge
180mm x 95mm x 10mm

Pearl-ish Insect, 2020
Glass beads, plastic beads, plastic sheet, hot glue, cardboard, white gesso
70mm x 120mm x 25mm

Lace-ish Insect (Image 1), 2020
Copper, silver, spray paint, epoxy resin, cotton lace, cotton thread
130mm x 150mm x 15mm

Lace-ish Insect (Image 2), 2020
Copper, silver, spray paint, epoxy resin, cotton lace, cotton thread
130mm x 150mm x 15mm (brooch)