Large-format art print Iridescence

Beetles are among the oldest and most fascinating creatures on Earth. Their iridescent shells look almost like precious gemstones and have always led humans to see more in them than just a small insect.

In mythology, beetles appear time and again as guardians of treasure, talismans, and symbols of rebirth. In ancient Egypt, Khepri, the god of the rising sun, was depicted as a man with the head of a scarab.

The connection between the beetle and the sun arose from a simple observation. Dung beetles roll balls of dung across the ground and then bury them. Young beetles later emerge from these balls – seemingly out of nowhere. For the ancient Egyptians, this mysterious process became a symbol of creation and rebirth. The movement of the beetle, rolling its ball before it, was simultaneously associated with the daily journey of the sun across the sky.

For our research, we explored the extensive entomological collection at ETH Zurich, where around two million insect specimens are housed. We were fascinated by the incredible visual diversity we encountered in the world of beetles.

With "Iridescence," we turn our gaze to the beetle as one of nature's small jewels. What at first glance appears to be merely a shell reveals, upon closer inspection, a world of color, structure, history, and meaning.

The large-format, limited-edition art prints are screen-printed by hand in Zurich. The colors are applied individually and carefully printed on top of one another. This results in intense shades, fine overlays, and a special luminosity.

• Large-format art print, 700 × 1000 mm
• Screen-printed in Zurich, Switzerland
• Lessebo 1.3 Rough Natural, 200 g/m²
• Cradle to Cradle Certified® & FSC®-certified paper
• Limited edition: 100 copies
• Swiss Made
• Concept & Design: Bienvenue Studios