The beauty of Angus’ work is not only the incredible patterns she forms with the insects, but also the insects themselves. She neither paints nor doctors them in any way, so when you see these amazing and iridescent bugs, it is truly what they look like.
Like wallpaper, the installations are pinned onto vertical surfaces and often incorporate words or other elements to go along with the theme of the installation. To create the installation, Angus first creates the room layout, then uses photoshop and images of the bugs to lay out her design. When she and her team arrive at the space, they hang string in a grid and begin pinning the insects according to the map. Lately, Angus has taken to using bugs to create a Victorian-era doll house diorama.
Angus sources all of her bugs ethically through reputable insect specimen dealers throughout North America, Europe and Asia and none are on the endangered species list. The bugs cost anywhere from 50 cents to $25 dollars each, and are stored pinned to foam so that they can be reused over and over again in different exhibitions. Many of the bugs that Angus sources are from Asia, collected by local people who live near the forest. Angus explains, “Everyone recognizes that forests are the lungs of the planet. We need them. One could make the argument that those harvesting insects are in fact protecting the jungle.”
Insects have a very important role in our environment and are responsible for pollination and decay, so Angus hopes that her work sheds a better light on insects, get people excited about them and help protect their habitats.
This past spring, Angus exhibited a show called at the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa, Florida. Her latest exhibition called features around 5,000 insects at the Craft and Folk Art Museum in Los Angeles now showing until September 11.
Via Co.Design
