Flutter Hologram: Morpho Helena

2017

A holographic set of Morpho helena butterflies brought to life within a Victorian bell jar.

A Neotropical butterfly natively found in South America, the Morpho helena is immediately recognised by the shimmering shades of striking blue on its upper wing surface. These colours are not the result of pigmentation, but rather an example of iridescence: an optical phenomenon in which hues change according to the angle from which the surface is viewed. Housed within the bell jar, three of these butterflies flutter around their environment, eventually coming to rest on a sprouting branch.

When left to their own devices, the butterflies are instinctively drawn to the germinating branch, indicating that it is a source of rejuvenation. The simple wave of a hand, however, disrupts this relaxed state, causing them to dance around the twig in a flurry of activity.