Overworked Bee

In this piece I wanted to highlight the plight of the bee and how we as people can relate to this. Overworked Bee symbolises the stressed out overworked persona. It seemed the right time to delve into this concept due to the current global crisis and the period of reflection this has given to us all. We are all burdened with pressures and stress and it's always a good idea to step back and observe this periodically. 

With the life of an overworked bee they fly to and from the hive collecting nectar and pollen countless times. Due to this their wings become fragile and begin to wear away to the point that they can no longer fly. This can, at times, result in them being unable to return back to their hives. In retrospect we can all relate to this- being overworked, overburdened and overloaded can lead to problems in everyday life. 

Obviously the bee is also the iconic symbol of Manchester. However I feel it is overused and the importance of its symbolism has been overtaken by greed and self indulgence. It has been overdone to the point of destruction which is also represented in the aesthetic and style the bee has been created.

 Constructed using sample bobbin from a now derelict cotton mill in Greater Manchester- it seemed to be serendipitous and inevitable that this material was to be used to create the bee. 

The cotton bobbins were purchased over 13 years ago, and with Manchester being associated with Cottonopolis it was the obvious choice. 

The bee is enclosed in a rusted concave enclosure to emphasize the overworked nature and the overexposure of the symbol. It's almost as if the bee has had enough of the world we live in and now needs to retreat.  

Over the years I've collected and acquired so much stuff knowing that at some point I'd make something with it. The current global crisis has made me look and use materials which I have to hand. 13 years ago I bought crates of sample bobbins from a cotton mill which had closed down in Greater Manchester some years earlier. This was the basis of the sculpture, cotton being known as the staple industry for the city years ago. The other iconic symbol is the Manchester Bee, which over the years I have been asked on multiple occasions if I would create one, which I refused as I didn't feel the time was right. The Bee is such an important symbol yet one which is overused and people take for granted. 

 I decided it was time to create a bee made from the Manchester cotton, but showing how bee's are affected when they are overworked. From flying to and from the hive collecting nectar and pollen many many times, their wings become fragile and begin to wear away in which they can no longer fly, sometimes never making it back to their hive and lay to rest. 

On show at Saul Hay Gallery from 5th until 20th September as part of ‘FORM – a celebration of contemporary British sculpture’

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