Insecta Fantasia

We visited The Newark Museum today to see Jennifer Angus' Insecta Fantasia at the Ballantine House which is the museums restored 19th century Victorian mansion. The exhibit was stunning and I can't stop thinking about it.

The artist arranged some 5,000 preserved insects which are pinned to the wall in kaleidoscopic patterns all over the wallpaper of two rooms in the victorian home. The insects patterns evoke textiles from the period. She also creates a fictious narrative involving two children of the home as amateur entomologists.

The artist uses the insects as characters to play out fairy tales under glass with beeswax settings such as Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, The Princess and the Pea...
Insects are under cloches arranged with vintage spools of thread, under convex glass frames against the wall. And, also in a dollhouse on the floor. There are many varieties of insects and the colors are rich and gorgeous.

I was only able to snap this one photo before I was told I couldn't photograph the exhibit. I had not see any sign so I didn't know. I really wish I could have taken more. The museum gift shop only had one book for the artist and it didn't relate to this exhibit.

Here are some photos I found on the artist's webpage and some more details about the show.

I really want to go back again and luckily I can as the exhibit runs through June and is only about a 20 minute drive for me.