Specimen Hierodula Majuscule

Specimen Hierodula Majascule engages with Julia Kristeva’s concept of the abject through exploring insects that have been noted as monstrous or pervading due to how they appear visually. The artwork aims to visually disturb the viewer due to the large-scale rendering and hyper realistic quality having the impression of coming to life. The objective of this artwork is to provoke the viewer to consider whether the specimen is contaminating themself or the area it occupies. This enormous decomposing insect haunts and invades the viewer's senses. Through their near proximity to the overpowering piece of art, the audience becomes contaminated

Follow

Mallory Leckey (she/her) is an emerging artist living and working on Peramangk land (South Australia, Adelaide).
Mallory Leckey’s methodology explores themes of abject subject matter, decaying specimens and the conjunction of hyperrealism and abstraction. Primarily drawn to the natural world through insects, plants, and the environment, within her study she focusses on abject insects themselves and her own interaction with them. The seemingly endless variety of entomological life she encountered in her research encouraged her to undertake further studies.
Leckey’s hyper-realistic artworks are a reflection of her curious nature of collecting natural specimens as her main source of inspiration. Predominantly working in oil paints, she finds this medium allows for intense realism and details of scientific accuracy can be observed.
She is currently in her third year in completion of the Bachelor of Contemporary Art at the University of South Australia.