Wild Muse Notes

The installations of Jennifer Angus gives new meaning to the expression “fly on the wall”. I find this work aesthetically pleasing but I really don’t know how I feel about it, which is part of the reason it fascinates me. I think there are several elements combined here that are interesting; perception shifts using displaced natural elements and the ability to rearrange space in an evocative manner. Insects are simultaneously beautiful and terrible, alien and familiar. These exhibits also shift me a little sideways and that is always a welcome if disconcerting experience.

“Western culture in particular has a certain hysteria when it comes to insects. They are symbols of dirtiness, disease and decay. In other cultures, insects hold religious significance or at least a measure of respect, be they food, medicine, embellishment or pets. ” – Jennifer Angus, Artist’s Statement

“I am an ant wrangler. And ants are, as we all know, tireless workers. So if you get a project that they can do, they’ll do it. And there’s no questions asked. No unions. I had ants in my kitchen, and they are little, small what they call I think sugar ants, but they are coming in I think for water. I made a small head of cheese and turkey. I put a ball of cheese and turkey together and then cased it with clay, and mounted it on a small coathanger. I made an opening in the mouth, I exposed some turkey in the eye and in the ears. Now the ants found the coathanger, began climbing in for four days and nights non-stop and emptied the entire head of turkey and cheese.” – David Lynch