Louise Saunders

Question  Louise, your work investigates the miniscule detail contained within the randomness of nature and promotes the wonder of their seasonal existence. Could you please explain how you go about capturing the randomness of nature, and are two bugs ever the same?

Response  Having admiration for all things natural and revelling in the intricate details of my subjects, my work needs no explanation. Bizarre in a contemporary art culture, don’t you agree?

Nature on the other hand, should be explained. Without understanding it we fail to be fascinated, remain ignorant and give it no value. Without explanations we fail to be inspired by how incredible the minute details of nature can be. I love to capture the detail in my work giving the viewer a glimpse of nature frozen in time. I try to make them feel as though that little slice of nature is theirs forever.

My work can be painfully slow, self-absorbing, hours of absolute distraction. Having to get to know my subject intimately, reading about it, holding it, taking it apart, wanting to know what makes it so perfect. I have to understand my subject if I am to do it justice – ‘nature’ is always faultless, the ultimate challenge.

Are two bugs ever the same? I guess not from a bug’s perspective but from where I stand (when not holding a magnifying glass) they sure do look the same! Someone close to me suggested that all bugs looked similar when under a boot – Ahhh! But when I gaze into its knowing eyes I can understand its journey. Indeed to the indifferent, one bug appears a clone of the next but upon study each is characterised, like us, by fate and the path of opportunities chosen in its quest to fulfil its purpose in the randomness of nature.

Always give back to the natural world in some way!  The good bugs want you to put the poison in the bin.