Dear, Kabuto is made in response to a wild Coconut Rhino Beetle, Kabuto, that the artist rescued for a night before it passed away. Centered around the plastic enclosure that housed it, a single channel projection casts a spectral life into the wrapped cage, documenting the interactions between the artist and his pet beetle that night.
This project explores the notion of materialising loss, by transforming the constructed habitat of the pet beetle into a tangible container for grief.
At the centre of the tank sits a photograph, which captured the artist gazing towards the camera. The work uses this gaze to suggest a confrontation against the artist’s desire to gain ownership over the beetle’s exotic status, under the pretext of pet ownership.
By staging the work on a low-lying table, it invites viewers to peer down for a closer look, and perhaps, like the artist had, gain a newfound respect for the sheer resilience that these critters possess.
Dear, Kabuto is made in response to a wild Coconut Rhino Beetle, Kabuto, that the artist rescued for a night before it passed away. Centered around the plastic enclosure that housed it, a single channel projection casts a spectral life into the wrapped cage, documenting the interactions between the artist and his pet beetle that night.
This project explores the notion of materialising loss, by transforming the constructed habitat of the pet beetle into a tangible container for grief.
At the centre of the tank sits a photograph, which captured the artist gazing towards the camera. The work uses this gaze to suggest a confrontation against the artist’s desire to gain ownership over the beetle’s exotic status, under the pretext of pet ownership.
By staging the work on a low-lying table, it invites viewers to peer down for a closer look, and perhaps, like the artist had, gain a newfound respect for the sheer resilience that these critters possess.
