Monarch Butterfly Wing
Naturally occurring, ca. 2019
Right forewing (scales, hairs, and veins composed of chitin)
5.2 × 2.7 cm
Found object from Huntsville, Ontario, Canada
Personal collection
The beauty, complexity and fragility of the monarch butterfly is reflected by just one wing. Butterflies have 2 forewings and 2 hindwings, each covered by thousands of overlapping iridescent scales made of the protein, chitin. These aid body-temperature-regulation, camouflage/mimicry, attraction of mates and facilitate flight. Monarch butterfly wings additionally act as ‘warning signs’ to indicate their toxicity to predators. Butterflies are pertinent to the future. The monarch has become a recognised symbol for conservation in Western Societies, and acts as a metonymy for global biodiversity and environmental stewardship. They are imperative to pollination of wild species and crops; since they share habitats with other pollinators (including bees), they act as an easily observable biological indicator, and can reveal declines in other species. They also play a significant role in ecosystem function as part of the food-web. Further, monarchs are commonly used in classrooms to teach children about science, metamorphosis and change, and environmental responsibility, as they are easily raised indoors. Studies indicate that connections and experiences with nature in childhood lead to increased environmental activism and interest in science in adulthood, which is increasingly important in today’s urban society.
This wing was found outside during summer of 2019 as a result of monarch predation, parasite infection, injury or death from chemical ingestion. The wing is an incredibly beautiful and complex structure, and was kept in admiration, as well as for a teaching tool to allow friends, family, and particularly younger children to see a wing up close and learn about its fragility without endangering a live butterfly. The wing was also kept as recognition that many monarchs die annually, but we can help more to live to the adult stage by raising monarchs indoors each summer. This references particular collection practices relating to social practices and poetic actions, as the monarch butterfly represents the familial tradition of raising monarchs indoors, borne from my mother’s passion to teach me about nature as a child, which I intend to pass on. The symbolism of parenthood and childhood and my personal nostalgic connection to this species speaks to the poetic dimension of collecting.
This object plays homage to the lost life of a monarch butterfly, but as an object to be virtually experienced, the fragility and details of the object are likely to be intangible. Through storytelling, it becomes increasingly possible to grasp the symbolism of the wing and the importance of conservation of biodiversity. Turning to nature, which carries on despite the global pandemic, nurtures the imagination, promotes positive mental and physical health, and inspires care for the species whose futures are within our control in these uncertain times.
Emma Sultmanis