About ‘Hive’:
‘Hive' is a sculptural installation constructed from discarded industrial ducting parts, previously used in air ventilation and fume extraction systems. The structure contains three distinct audio works played through concealed speakers. Sounds emanate and undergo distortion through a series of tubular extensions, creating the illusion of insect activity within the structure. This work considers the Earth's shift into the Anthropocene epoch and the uncertainty surrounding the future of nature, aiming to create a contradictory tension between order and disorder. The work draws inspiration from Michel Serres' concept of the 'Parasite' and raises questions about the presence of humans as disruptive forces in nature, considering the resulting ecological imbalance. The scrap ducting used in the structure is associated with environmental pollution and air contamination, reflecting the connection between the environment, air, and the process of circulating clean air into human-made spaces, only for it to be expelled and pollute the air outside. Additionally, the network of pipes and tubes refers to the architecture of capitalism beyond the link with air and mirrors the tubular formations of a factory network and the pipes used in extracting and transporting Earth's resources between places, all of which contribute to environmental decline.
The structure's biomorphic form draws inspiration from various organic shapes while maintaining an industrial aesthetic. The towering stack might be interpreted as both a tree and a chimney, while other shapes resemble maggots or sprawling crystals, all of which are linked to the Earth and the processes that transform it over time. In addition to forming a visualisation of material waste, the work draws attention to the usually concealed networks of pipes and tubes society depends on, despite overlooking the unsustainable ecological consequences of this dependence. The work aims to foster an understanding of the interconnection between humans and the natural world, encouraging a shift away from anthropocentrism and the idea that nature exists separately from humans.
The ducting pieces that make up the system have a uniform logic and organised structure; this furthers connections to modernism and associated ideals of order and control through technology at the expense of the non-human world. The artwork critiques these ideals by subverting the original industrial purposes of the ducting. Instead of allowing the movement of air, the ducting network now carries a disordered flow of audio. This concealment of suggested insects that can only be heard and not seen indicates the absence or instability of nature, rather than the ducting fulfilling its original industrial or polluting purpose. The distortion of sound implies a potential breakdown within a technological system. The use of technology to imitate nature reflects our increasing disconnection from reality through our reliance on technology. This extends to our relationship with 'nature', something increasingly simulated rather than experienced. The installation creates a contradictory space that combines elements of both nature and artifice, drawing inspiration from Michel Foucault's concept of heterotopic space.
Insect sounds were used to create the soundscapes due to the importance of insects for the survival of all species, serving as a metaphor for nature as a whole. The work takes into account the worldwide decrease in insect biodiversity and the potential for a future 'insect apocalypse'. The work was inspired by science fiction, especially the fictional world of 'Queen City Jazz' and its flower cities, which are home to giant genetically engineered bees.
This project was made possible thanks to the following contributors who kindly supplied the industrial waste:
Extractly LTD: A company who supply, install & maintain dust & fume extraction systems.
Mechanical Air Supplies LTD (MAS): A specialist supplier and manufacturer for the ventilation and air conditioning industry. They also work alongside several special effects companies in the filmmaking industry.
