Over 300 frames with honeycombs form the basis of the installation “Endangered bees and honeycombs”. The scent of the honeycombs, which were once filled with honey, spreads throughout the room – meaning that the work can be experienced not only visually, but also through the sense of smell. The installation is accessible via one side; the interior promises a sense of security. The incident light is dimmed by the honeycombs, creating a cosy atmosphere. The different shades of the combs, from golden yellow to almost black, result from the frequency of their former use: the more often the frames have been reused by beekeepers, the darker the colour of the honeycombs they contain.
Anna Boghiguian sees a parallel to democracy and monarchy in the way bees live together naturally. The bees cohabit in a regulated state, ruled by a queen who is responsible for maintaining her colony. But “Endangered bees and honeycombs” is also a reference to the worldwide dying of bees, which continues due to the use of pesticides in conventional, single-crop agriculture, air pollution and climate change.
