New Zealand 20th century
Sparked by a fascination with insects that has lasted from times playing in a patch of bush at the bottom of her childhood garden. Philippa Bentley has created some of the most wonderful and distinctive artworks. “I love insects, they fascinate me, with their vast range of colours, shapes, beautiful patterns and quirky, amazing life cycles. They present so much scope to the artist”.
Bentley screen prints and hand colours her images onto paper or recycled weather-boards, which she frames as if archived in a museum boxed collection. The use of old timber started as a play on the old, kiwi trend from the 1950s of a butterfly on a weatherboard house, and is an integral part of the work.
Completing the museum feel, each individual artwork is authenticated with details of the name and date, and sometimes hand written notes describing the personal reference associated with the image.
