Rachel Bungey

Works inspired by Rachel’s research into natural history; bones are the framework upon which our bodies are built, exemplifying both fragility and resilience. Housing our organs and allowing us to move; tender and delicate yet sturdy and unyielding, our bones are our fundamental architecture - our structure, our core. Long after we depart they endure, connecting us to the animal kingdom and our ancestral lineage. In their fossilised state, bones become storytellers of the past, allowing us to unravel the narratives of our human and non-human predecessors. Through the study of skeletal structures, we gain a visual representation of the direct mimicry found within living organisms, for example the shapes found in our rib cage can be found across many species, exposing the magnificence of organic design. 

This project integrates a seven-axis robot arm and traditional craftsmanship to create sculpture. The robot arm was digitally programmed to carve the sculptures using 3D scans of logs of wood then crafted by hand, leaving details of the robot arm touch - preserving the connection between artist and machine. The spalted wood, originally collected in Sheffield and dried for over 12 years, bears witness to the captivating stories of fungal colonisation. The fungi, extracting nutrients from the wood, leave distinctive and unique marks. 

This hybrid form combines the jaw of a whale with the arm of a mantis. The whale, with a lifespan nearing a century and the mantis living for just one year, contribute immeasurably to the ecosystems they inhabit, whilst human activity jeopardises the existence of both. The viewer is confronted with a reflection of our own impact on the world and the need for greater responsibility to preserve it. As these two seemingly disparate species unite in a single form they represent the paradoxes that exist within life - the whale embodies strength and endurance while the mantis exudes grace and lightness; the whale journeys vast distances whilst the mantis remains mainly motionless. The piece invites the viewer to ponder the ways in which we can learn from these fascinating creatures and in turn preserve their place in the world, as well as ours.

Taurhina (Neptunides) polychrous fasciicollis – it is named “Neptunides” because the head of the male is said to resemble Neptune's trident. These beetles adapt to their environment in chromes, their surface mirroring their surroundings. Some scientists believe beetles developed metallic colours that mimic the appearance of raindrops on leaves to help them camouflage - warping, misshaping, distorting perspective to protect themselves. Can we mimic water like the beetle in our minds? We warp, misshape, distort to camouflage also, perhaps for protection too.

Engrossed by her mesmerising skin that lay limp and motionless, through prolonged observation, I sought to replicate the mantis's embodiment of balance and focus. The mantis is a revered symbol of stillness across many cultures, shedding the walls that house her, enabling renewal each time. My fascination for mantises was heightened when examining her skin closely. Her delicate velvet-like exterior contrasted with protective spikes. These spikes resonated with me; as a woman I sometimes feel we need spikes. Perhaps the mantis is also a symbol of protection and self-preservation: do these spikes represent the inherent strength and resilience present within all females? The exploration of the mantis and its significance speaks to our timeless connection between the natural world and the human experience and the profound beauty that can be found within both.