Plastic Pestilence by Amy Swartz
Toronto-based artist Amy Swartz combines taxidermy insects and plastic toy parts in an amazing ongoing series called Pest. Her work explores the idea of obsession “not only in the practice of art, but also in humanity’s perceived control over nature, life and death.” Perceived control, indeed.
I think these are beautiful, and I like that Swartz resisted going too kitsch with them. Having recently been won over by a very special butterfly myself, Swartz’s “Pests” feel like just the right combination of whimsy and dignity. Lovely.
Swartz’s insect medium and title “Pests” brought to mind a bug-related artwork of an entirely different nature: these political pests.
