Populations of insect pollinators such as bees, butterflies and moths and the plants on which they depend, are declining at alarming rates due to deleterious human activity. These symbiotic relationships must be protected. Through interdisciplinary collaboration with entomologists, botanists, biochemists, surface pattern designers and engineering technologists, I am creating a prototype range of clothing that will, through site-specific artistic intervention, raise greater awareness of these important issues. The Pollinator Frocks Project is a limited edition ‘collection’ of clothing that will be based on scanning electron microscopy images of plant pollen grains linked to endangered pollinators. These digitally enhanced images form the basis for a range of striking and unusual printed fabrics. The fabrics will be treated with pollinator food sources that replicate nectar, which will be specially coated onto the fabric prior to cut and assemble as ‘pollinator frocks’ (loose fitting unisex clothing). There will be ‘day-wear’ for insects such as bees and butterflies and ‘evening-wear’ for moths. In the urban environment where garden space is limited and nectar rich plants rare, the clothing could be ‘hung out’ as clothes are hung on a washing line, to act as an attractant to pollinators. The food source coating will be specially engineered to wash out in a 30° wash after depletion so the garment can be worn as normal. As part of the public engagement Stage One phase, human-scale cloth sculptures will be made from the treated fabrics and sited in a variety of environments and locations, from a flower rich meadow to a city park, to raise public awareness and test the efficacy of the prototype fabrics.
Karen Ingham is an artist and a Reader in Art and Science Interactions at Swansea Metropolitan University. The Pollinator Frocks Project is being supported by the art, science and technology network SATnet and the Arts Council of Wales Creative Wales Awards.
karen.ingham@smu.ac.uk
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