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Michael Brennand-Wood, Flower Head – Narcissistic Butterfly, 60x60x40cm, 2005.

“Flower Head – Narcissistic Butterfly conceptually references the implied relationship between the floral and human head. Each individual embroidered flower has at its centre a human face, preserved at the end of a flexible wire, the bunch a cast of political and media characters. Sculpturally the form refers to the exotic, tiered pincushions into which hatpins were once stored. The embroidered flower is a twentieth-century-snapshot, analogous to a preserved butterfly in a museum case, a reflection of someone who has ceased to exist. I was interested in the term ‘pinhead’, a derogatory critique of certain people in society – in this context pinhead is deliberately ambiguous referring to both people and the preservation of insects. Our leaders, those people who represent us, have an unfortunate sense of their own self-importance – a desire to be seen and constantly photographed at their best. The mirror is a literal reflection of their narcissism and our fascination with other peoples media lives.” Michael Brennand-Wood is a visual artist, curator, lecturer and arts consultant. Since 1979 he has occupied a central position in the research,...

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