Bee Colony Collapse Babel 2008

"Bee Colony Collapse Babel", 2008. This painting is based on the story of the Tower of Babel and the building of the European Union in Belgium. The design of the EU structure is based on drawings of the Tower of Babel. This painting is comprised of a variety of bees in pairs, each kind of bee drawing represents another language from a different culture or disciple throughout time and around the world, such as Egyptian hieroglyphics, Phoenician drawings, scientific illustration, a sacred geometry bee, etc. The eleven bees circle the hive-like tower as the stars circle the EU building in it's promotional drawings. The dripping hive tower reaches toward a bright fire pink sky, as cartoon-like puffy blue clouds gather at the top. This painting is an allegory of what may happen if people don't pay attention to the phenomenon in which worker bees from a bee colony abruptly disappear. If the major pollinators of our food plants get sick from bad environmental conditions and can no longer do their duty, the world's food supply will shortly disappear too. Chaos and disorder ensue when people do not communicate. 72 inches by 38 inches. Made with mixed medium paint and gold metallic pigment on canvas.