Broken butterflies

(2011) The book 'The Butterfly Workshop’ by Gioconda Belli was an inspiration for the restored butterflies. This children’s book is about a character called Arno, one of the ‘designers of all things’ who secretly wants to create something that is as beautiful as a flower and can fly like a bird. Arno works in a space where butterflies are designed and made, and this idea of a utilitarian workspace for beautiful creatures really appealed to my imagination.
I had my own collection of damaged butterflies, so I decided to repair each one differently according to their needs. So in a way, I now have my own workplace with butterflies and give the butterflies a second life. I design body parts and give the insects new names, names that reveal something about their recovery. For example the The 'Blauw spinner' looked like it had died the moment it hatched from its cocoon. This lead me to me make the body from a twig wrapped with blue thread. A few threads are still hanging loose , almost as though the butterfly is slowly unwinding and breaking free from its cocoon.

"De draadspanner" (The treadtensioner) was missing two wings. With thread and pins I have recreated the construction the veins of his wings. (w:17 h:14 d:5.5 cm)

"De draadspanner" (The treadtensioner) was missing two wings. With thread and pins I have recreated the construction the veins of his wings. (w:17 h:14 d:5.5 cm)

The "Medusozoa" had lost her body and antennae  and could no longer fly. She was given a new set of flying tools and a propeller. The movement of the Medusuzoa inspired the name. (w:14 h:25 d:5.5 cm)

The "Medusozoa" had lost her body and antennae  and could no longer fly. She was given a new set of flying tools and a propeller. The movement of the Medusuzoa inspired the name. (w:14 h:25 d:5.5 cm)

"Goudswortel vlinder" (Golden root butterfly). This butterfly was missing its body and I added the plant root to recreate the butterfly's torso. The root symbolizes an umbilical cord to the earth. (w:14 h:25 d:5.5 cm)

"Goudswortel vlinder" (Golden root butterfly). This butterfly was missing its body and I added the plant root to recreate the butterfly's torso. The root symbolizes an umbilical cord to the earth. (w:14 h:25 d:5.5 cm)

"Zwart vlek vlinder" (Black spot butterfly) was missing two top wings, so I made the new wings by embroidering the black spots patterns on fabric. (w:17 h:14 d:5.5 cm)

"Zwart vlek vlinder" (Black spot butterfly) was missing two top wings, so I made the new wings by embroidering the black spots patterns on fabric. (w:17 h:14 d:5.5 cm)

"Goudrafeltje" (Gold fray). The wings of this butterfly seemed to be frayed, like a dress which has its seam missing and the fabric has frayed. I fixed the wings with gold leaf to stop further fraying. (w:17 h:14 d:5.5 cm)

"Goudrafeltje" (Gold fray). The wings of this butterfly seemed to be frayed, like a dress which has its seam missing and the fabric has frayed. I fixed the wings with gold leaf to stop further fraying. (w:17 h:14 d:5.5 cm)

The "Blauw spinner" (Blue spinner). Looked like it died the moment it hatched from the cocoon. This lead to me recreate the body from a twig wrapped with blue thread. A few threads are still hanging loose almost as though the butterfly is slowly unwinding and breaking free from its cocoon. (w:18 h:50 d:5.5 cm)

The "Blauw spinner" (Blue spinner). Looked like it died the moment it hatched from the cocoon. This lead to me recreate the body from a twig wrapped with blue thread. A few threads are still hanging loose almost as though the butterfly is slowly unwinding and breaking free from its cocoon. (w:18 h:50 d:5.5 cm)

"Landkaart" (Map Butterfly). The original name of this butterfly is "Atlas moth" and lives in Asia. I used the maps of Asia to repair its wings. (w:26 h:20 d:5.5 cm)

"Landkaart" (Map Butterfly). The original name of this butterfly is "Atlas moth" and lives in Asia. I used the maps of Asia to repair its wings. (w:26 h:20 d:5.5 cm)