Bees in Art: From Ancient Egypt to Contemporary Sculpture
This article explores the connection between art and bees, particularly in light of World Bee Day 2021 and Angelina Jolie's participation in the UNESCO Women for Bees initiative. Inspired by Richard Avedon's 1981 work 'The Beekeeper,' Jolie was photographed by Dan Winters. The initiative aims to create 2,500 hives across 25 UNESCO biosphere reserves by 2025, which will support 125 million bees. Throughout history, bees have represented rebirth in ancient Egyptian culture and were associated with the goddess Artemis in Greek mythology. Significant artworks include Albrecht Dürer’s 1514 engraving 'Cupid the Honey Thief,' Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s 1644 'Fountain of the Bees,' and modern installations such as Wolfgang Buttress's 'The Hive' (2016) and Tomáš Gabzdil Libertíny's 'Made by bees' series showcased at the 2021 Venice Architecture Biennale.
Key facts
- World Bee Day 2021 highlighted bees' ecological importance.
- Angelina Jolie participated in UNESCO's Women for Bees project.
- Women for Bees aims to build 2,500 hives in 25 biosphere reserves by 2025.
- Dan Winters photographed Jolie covered in bees, inspired by Richard Avedon's 1981 'The Beekeeper'.
- Ancient Egyptians considered bees divine, born from the tears of Ra.
- Albrecht Dürer's 1514 'Cupid the Honey Thief' depicts Cupid fleeing bees.
- Gian Lorenzo Bernini's 1644 'Fountain of the Bees' is in Rome.
- Wolfgang Buttress's 'The Hive' (2016) uses LEDs and sounds to reflect bee activity.
- Rosie Armstrong's 'Requiem for Insects' (2019) features laser-cut wooden bees.
- Ladislav Hanka creates prints inside beehives, collaborating with bees.
- Aganetha Dyck's 'Honeybee Alteration' (2014) uses everyday objects in hives.
- Ren Ri uses plexiglass structures to guide bees into geometric forms.
- Tomáš Gabzdil Libertíny's 'Made by bees' series was at the 2021 Venice Architecture Biennale.
- Libertíny's 'Eternity' is a beeswax bust of Nefertiti, referencing the sun god Aton.
Entities
Artists
- Angelina Jolie
- Dan Winters
- Richard Avedon
- Albrecht Dürer
- Gian Lorenzo Bernini
- Wolfgang Buttress
- Rosie Armstrong
- Ladislav Hanka
- Aganetha Dyck
- Ren Ri
- Tomáš Gabzdil Libertíny
Institutions
- UNESCO
- National Geographic
- Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna
- National Gallery of Canada
- Gwen Frostic School of Art, Western Michigan University
- Venice Architecture Biennale
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Vienna
- Austria
- Canada
- China
- Slovakia
- Australia
- Iowa
- United States
- Venice
- Egypt