Flight of the Bumblebees

Flight of the Bumblebees takes its title from Rimsky-Korsakov’s orchestral piece. Using traditional botanical wax techniques, Townsend creates delicate blossoms intended to attract pollinating insects, made from paper, bleached beeswax, and paraffin wax. Their translucency suggests both the fragility of pollinator species and the vulnerability of their habitats.

The series was created for Platform at London Art Fair 2022, curated by Candida Stevens. Platform explored the theme of music in contemporary visual art.