INTERVIEW WITH ALEXANDRA, STUTTGART, GERMANY

ENTOMOLOGICAL ART



37 years old, studied linguistics and management, then worked in the automotive and toy industry. Mother and Beetle business owner.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/insectumshop/?etsrc=sdt

Why are you interested in insects?

I've always been interested in art and bright colours. I got into insects in 2023 during a holiday in the USA, where I saw decorated insect jars for the first time in a magic shop. After that, I really wanted to do it myself and just started - learning by doing.

There are over a million insect species and around 200,000 butterfly species in the world, that's an incredible range of beautiful colours, a natural palette so to speak.

Why are insects important and which ones interest you in particular? 

Without insects, pollination of plants would no longer take place, so the majority of our planet's biodiversity depends on these tiny creatures, which are far too often not even noticed by us. I am particularly interested in beetles, butterflies and moths.

Do you pursue a specific goal with your work?

First and foremost, I really enjoy my work and I love what I do because I can express myself through my art. I would like people to see insects with different eyes through my art, to change their perspective and thus become more open to new things in other areas.

By focussing on dead insects, my objects are always also a memento mori; they symbolise that we should become aware of our own mortality and appreciate our lives. I also like the idea that an insect that naturally only lives for a few days or weeks can be given a second life in a jar and thus bring people joy and contemplation for a very long time.