About ‘Hive’:

‘Hive' is a sculptural installation constructed from discarded industrial ducting parts, previously used in air ventilation and fume extraction systems. The structure contains three distinct audio works played through concealed speakers. Sounds emanate and undergo distortion through a series of tubular extensions, creating the illusion of insect activity within the structure. This work considers the Earth's shift into the Anthropocene epoch and the uncertainty surrounding the future of nature, aiming to create a contradictory tension between order and disorder. The work draws inspiration from Michel Serres' concept of the 'Parasite' and raises questions about the presence of humans as disruptive forces in nature, considering the resulting ecological imbalance. The scrap ducting used in the structure is associated with environmental pollution and air contamination, reflecting the connection between the environment, air, and the process of circulating clean air into human-made spaces, only for it to be expelled and pollute the air outside. Additionally, the network of pipes and tubes refers to the architecture of capitalism beyond the link with air and mirrors the tubular formations of a factory network and the pipes used in extracting and transporting Earth's resources between places, all of which contribute to environmental decline.

This project was made possible thanks to the following contributors who kindly supplied the industrial waste:

Extractly LTD: A company who supply, install & maintain dust & fume extraction systems.

Mechanical Air Supplies LTD (MAS): A specialist supplier and manufacturer for the ventilation and air conditioning industry. They also work alongside several special effects companies in the filmmaking industry.