bright many fleeting and forever (2021) is a project about a real-life colony of wood ants in western Poland that once had the misfortune to live in an abandoned nuclear arms bunker. The ant’s residence in the bunker wasn’t by choice: they had accidentally built their nest above a ventilation pipe which later rusted away and formed a direct chute into the sealed bunker.
A research paper was written on the colony upon its discovery. Later, the same entomologists returned to the bunker to provide the bunker ants with a safe way back up to the mother nest. A second paper was written about the rescue. This body of work could not have been made without the influence of these researchers, who I thank earnestly for paying close enough attention to write them.
bright many fleeting and forever focuses on the story from the collective perspective of the ants, and is made up of paintings, poetry, a zine (made in collaboration with artist, writer and dear friend Ruairí Valentine), and a short table-top roleplaying game.
iv / oil on wood panel, 6x8", 2021