Royal Jelly 2015

This work by Camilla d'Errico presents us with a figure adorned with the iconography of bees and honey. The honeybee, throughout history, has been a powerful symbol, often linked to royalty, diligence, and immortality. Consider the crown, shaped like a honeycomb and teeming with bees, juxtaposed with the flowing locks of hair. In ancient cultures, the bee was associated with goddesses and the soul. Even the priestesses of Artemis were called "bees." The honey dripping suggests not only sweetness but also the potential for transformation, as honey has been seen as an elixir of life. The motif of the bee has travelled through time, buzzing through ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs to Renaissance emblems of industriousness. Here, D'Errico imbues it with a contemporary sensibility. This use reflects a collective memory, tapping into our subconscious understanding of the bee as a symbol of both vulnerability and potent power. It engages viewers on a deeply emotional level, evoking feelings of fragility, and the eternal cycle of life. Thus, the symbols in this piece remind us that iconography has a non-linear progression, resurfacing in new contexts. The images of the past return and are never truly lost; they evolve, adapt, and are reborn.