For nearly 20 years, Slovakian artistTomas Libertinyhas been working with bees to produce collaborative sculptures.
Except here, in a reversal ofmemento mori, the skull isn’t a symbol of what once was.
Instead, the beeswax skulls demonstrate what can be reborn through the efforts of nature.
The whole tray appears more as a trophy as well as an icon.
The trajectory is reversed.
The skull becomes covered in flesh with the help of nature.
It is the good news' and symbolic resurrection and hope.
From there, the bees take over to cover the frame and produce the skull.
Acting as an artistic directory of sorts, Libertiny closely supervises the work and makes adjustments as needed.
In some cases, that means the addition of red pigment.
Red was specifically selected because bees are unable to see the color red.
For Libertiny, this only adds to the mystique and brings a new spiritual dimension to the work.
It took three separate honeybee colonies the entire spring to produce the series.
For Libertiny, the satisfaction comes in revealing the resilience of nature.
Natural beeswax is vulnerable yet one of the most durable natural materials.
It can last thousands of years.
Sometimes, people who look weak on the outside are the most resilient souls walking among us.
Natural beeswax is vulnerable yet one of the most durable natural materials.
It can last thousands of years.
