Recalling the colourful Commedia dell’arte character
from which she takes her name, Cotton Harlequin Bug Woman is a hybrid of
Tectocoris diophthalmus, a bug with bright metallic colours. Found in
northern Australia and also common in agricultural areas, it has a long
proboscis that is used to pierce plants in order to feed on the liquid
nutrients.
Cotton Harlequins are particularly
prevalent at this time of year, which enabled the documentation of this never
before seen sub-species.
The same homo-insecta was the subject of a
linocut of the same name, made for the forthcoming Australian Print
Workshop exhibition IMRESSIONS 14 (see blog Post October 18).
Pictured top:
Cotton Harlequin Bug Woman, 2014, watercolour,
pigmented drawing ink and pencil, 41.5 x 30 cm.
Pictured Below:
Developmental stages of the work.
Developmental stages of the work.