Mutualisms (2022) collates beeswax sculpture, ink drawings, video, and soundscapes with a strong focus on the mutualistic phenomena of pollination. The exhibition presents various visual depictions of mapping practices, emphasising topographical terrain and pollination tracking/mapping. As the title suggests, the theme of Mutualism is intrinsic, where the relationship of a hive to its environmental surroundings is explored, as is the relationship between honeybee and artist. The co-collaborative relationship between artist and honeybee is grounded upon concepts of ecocentrism which dispute destructive, anthropocentric hierarchies between humans and non-humans. Honeybees are bestowed agency and authorship as co-collaborative agents in all creative works shown in Mutualisms.
Lillian Whitaker is a Meanjin-based artist whose practice adopts an environmentalist lens. Currently completing her practice-led Masters of Philosophy at QUT, Whitaker analyses aspects of ecology with a specific focus on themes of pollination mapping and ecocentric collaboration with European honeybee colonies. She aims to highlight the importance of ecological balance in the context of a human-induced Anthropocene.
Whitaker uses practical field-work methods whereby she carefully observes environmental phenomena and links these to conducted scientific research. Her art-making processes involve collaborations with honeybee colonies to create beeswax sculptures, video and soundscapes.
