Description
PRECIOUS CARGO forms part of my ongoing HOME series, which explores the many ways living creatures create, protect and define home. This sculpture draws inspiration from the fascinating behaviour of dung beetles, whose instinctive actions transform humble materials into something essential for survival and new life.
After mating, dung beetles carefully shape and roll a perfectly formed brooding ball, which the female buries underground before laying her eggs within it. This remarkable structure becomes both nourishment and shelter — a complete environment designed to protect and sustain developing life. In PRECIOUS CARGO, I reflected on this extraordinary act of care and the universal instinct to create places of safety, growth and belonging.
The sculpture contrasts refined and raw materials to emphasise the significance of the beetle’s labour. The beetle itself has been sculpted in lead-free pewter, which will retain its polished finish over time. The brooding ball is created from coloured cast concrete mixed with straw, echoing the organic nature of the original form, while areas of 24ct gold leaf draw attention to its preciousness and symbolic importance.
Balancing delicacy with strength, PRECIOUS CARGO invites the viewer to reconsider ideas of value, care and home through one of nature’s smallest but most determined creatures.
Materials: Pewter, coloured cast concrete, straw and 24ct gold leaf.
Dimensions: 26cm x 23cm x height 17cm
