By Marianne Keriakos
Beware. A dragonfly’s tail is not really bright-yellow and a mosquito is not normally the size of the monstrous one displayed at the Canadian Museum of Nature.
Beginning Jan. 27, the Canadian Museum of Nature will present Insect Wrecks, a collection of four giant metal insects.
How giant? Let’s just say the horsefly’s eyes are each composed of three television screens.
“I think the artist tried to make these creatures as anatomically incorrect as possible,” says Joanne Sparks, project manager at the Canadian Museum of Nature.
“It’ll be exciting for the kids to see up close these insects that bug them constantly during the summer. They’ll get a real kick out of it just because they’ll see parts of the insects they’ll never get to see with the human eye,” she says.
And according to the artwork’s creator, the public will not be the only ones observing.
“The horsefly will have a surveillance camera that will capture whoever’s looking at the piece. It’ll portray the bug as the predator looking at its prey,” says Gayle Hermick, an Outaouais sculptor and creator of the giant bugs.
Hermick, who’s been working with metal parts for the past 10 years, says her project combines art with the most important elements of a Western society.
“My work links art with technology and transportation. I’m creating new artwork that involves the Canadian society,” she says.
Hermick used a variety of materials for each of the insects’ body parts.
The mosquito is a mix of bicycle and helicopter parts. Computer parts make up the dragonfly, the horsefly are made up of three TV screens, and the woodtick has parachute-cloth skin.
“I love working with metal. It’s a material that you can transform. If something goes wrong, you can cut it off and fix it. It’s a very forgiving material. I need forgiving in my work,” jokes Hermick.
According to Sparks, Hermick’s collection will fit in well at the museum.
“We’re always looking for a connection between art and science. So, in Hermick’s case, it’s perfect.” she says.
Michael Harrison, the principal of Robert Hopkins Public School in Gloucester says he can’t wait for his students to see the display.
“I read about the exhibit in the newspaper and I can’t wait to send the kids there,” he says.
“I imagine they’ll be impressed. Of course we have to make them distinguish between reality and imagination. But, with today’s media, we’re used to dealing with this type of thing.”
Hermick adds that in light of the insects’ giant size and unusual materials, the public should keep an open mind when they’re viewing the collection.
“I want people to like my work and learn from it,” she says. “But, most importantly, I want them to take in their own way whatever they want out of it.”
Insect Wrecks is now being displayed at the Canadian Museum of Nature. It will be open until Mar. 19. For more information, call 566-4700.