Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

2023

Materials – Beeswax, pesticide residues in the beeswax (Difenoconazole, Carbaryl, Indoxacarb, Chlorpyrifos, Cyprodinil, Chlorantraniliprole, Trifloxystrobin, Pyraclostrobin, Fluxapyroxad, Metolachlor, Cyantraniliprole, Atrazine, Tebuconazole, Penthiopyrad, Piperonyl butoxide, Thiamethoxam, Methoxyfenozide, Pyrimethanil, Mandipropamid, Picoxystrobin, Azoxystrobin, Tebuthiuron, Propazine, Fluopyram), tinned copper wire, tissue paper.

Dimensions –  20 x 20 x 21cm

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, created using traditional wax model making techniques, has been made from honey bee wax provided by Dr. Scott McArt, Assistant Professor at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, New York. The honey bee wax, newly produced by bees in their hives during apple pollination, was collected from Orchard “B” in New York State and analysed at the Cornell Chemical Ecology Core Facility. It was found to contain pesticide residues above the EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency) and the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) acute contact exposure levels of concern for honey bees. As ‘Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil’ contains traces of these agricultural chemicals, they have been listed as artist’s materials