Early Attendance Numbers

“Unbearable Lightness” created by Tomás Gabzdil Libertiny

40,000 bees attended the Design Miami/ Basel Vernissage.  I don’t think we can technically count them as visitors since they were actually working at the fair.

The worker bees are a part of an amazing piece called “Unbearable Lightness” created by Tomás Gabzdil Libertiny and presented by Carpenters Workshop Gallery.  Tomás says the piece is about “control.” Previously, Tomás created a piece called “the honeycomb vase” as he describes it by “controlling nature to make a poetic object.”  This time he wanted to be bolder.

Within an enclosed glass case, we see a Jesus on-the-cross like figure made of a laser sintered framework.  The framework was put in an environment with worker bees and the industrious little fellows created a honeycomb skin. Tomás made the naturally white honeycomb red and orange symbolizing “a burning at the cross,” he says.   The final part of the creative process is removing the honey from the honeycomb.

This last step is taking place at Design Miami/ Basel.  Yesterday, Tomás released 40,000 worker bees into the glass case.  During the course of the fair they will eat off the honey in the honeycomb, essentially cleaning the piece for sale.   “We took the last step of the process and did it here at the fair.  It’s a nice contribution to the whole show,” says Tomás.

Video of the bees hard at work here:

Note to Collectors: Bees not included with purchase. (They go home with the beekeeper who we spotted at the Vernissage).

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

Libertiny Releasing the Bees

Unbearable Lightness - Libertiny

Unbearable Lightness - Libertiny

Unbearable Lightness - Libertiny

Unbearable Lightness - Libertiny

Tomas Gabzbil Libertiny

Unbearable Lightness - Libertiny 5