An exhibition of science and contemporary art will throw new light on the world of bees and other native pollinators at Cornwall’s Eden Project.

Kurt Jackson drawing among honey bees

The exhibition which will highlight the plight of pollinators, called Plan Bee, will only be open for a short time, from 26th January until 17th March, and will tie in with Science studies.

About Plan Bee

The exhibition focusses on the insects’ extraordinary lives and the threats they face. A major highlight will be the story of native dark honey bees and the vital role they play. 

Plan Bee will bring together a wide range of collaborators from many disciplines connected by their passion to protect pollinators.  

The display is being staged in Eden’s recently refurbished Core education centre and at its heart is work from three leading contemporary artists.

One section of the exhibition, Bees (and the Odd Wasp) in my Bonnet, features an extensive range of mixed media work, paintings and sculpture by environmentalist and artist Kurt Jackson.

Another, Reverie, is a multi-sensory sculptural installation by artist Wolfgang Buttress. The artwork will invite the visitor to sit within an immersive natural environment and listen to the live vibrational sounds of honey bees coming from a beehive at Eden.

Florilegium: Honey Flow 1 Spring by Amy Shelton is a celebrated series of lightbox artworks which have toured venues across the UK and Europe, informing audiences about the plight of pollinators. 

The three artists will be joined by scientists and organisations working to save the pollinators.

Bees Under the Lens will feature electron microscopy images of the native dark honey bee from the University of Plymouth and Falmouth University. 

Save the Pollinators will highlight a range of organisations which work on pollinator conservation and showcases two collaborative research projects. 

Further information

Plan Bee is part of a programme of events, temporary exhibitions, talks and workshops at the Eden Project exploring new collaborations between science and art as part of Eden’s Invisible Worlds programme.

Entry to Plan Bee is included with Eden admission, pass or membership. 

For more information, visit www.edenproject.com/plan-bee