Beetle on a Horse Biennale Gherdëina 9, Val Gardena, 2024
Beetle on a Horse, 2024, burned wood. Photo: Julius von Bismarck, 2024.
For The Parliament of Marmots, von Bismarck designed a new equestrian statue, installed in the centre of Ortisei. Proudly riding the horse, instead of a victorious warrior there is a bark beetle: a small local beetle that, due to global warming and human (in)action, has infested the forests of the Dolomites in recent years, leading to the disappearance of entire woodland areas. Depicting the insect as a conqueror, with the bark beetle on horseback the artist questions humans as one of the greatest plagues to their own environment.
Beetle on a Horse, installation view at Biennale Gherdëina 9 – The Parliament of Marmots, 2024. Photo: Tiberio Sorvillo.
Beetle on a Horse, installation view at Biennale Gherdëina 9 – The Parliament of Marmots, 2024. Photo: Tiberio Sorvillo.
Beetle on a Horse, installation view at Biennale Gherdëina 9 – The Parliament of Marmots, 2024. Photo: Tiberio Sorvillo.