Hasharat, Totems III: Entomological Composition in a 19th-Century Glass Dome

Totems III by Hasharat – Giant Yellow-Winged Stick Insect and Exotic Beetles in a 19th-Century Glass Dome

Totems III by Hasharat is a striking contemporary entomological sculpture that celebrates the extraordinary diversity of the insect world through a carefully balanced vertical composition. Encased beneath an authentic 19th-century hand-blown glass dome and raised on an ebonized turned wood base, the arrangement centers on an impressive Giant Yellow-Winged Stick Insect (Phyllium giganteum, or a closely related Phyllium species), displayed with its brilliant chartreuse and golden-yellow wings dramatically outstretched. Above it rests a spectacular Jewel Beetle (Sternocera sp.), prized for its iridescent metallic blue and emerald coloration, while below is a beautifully patterned Cicada (Tacua speciosa or a related species). Flanking the central column is a procession of brilliantly colored tropical beetles, including Jewel Beetles (Buprestidae), Flower Beetles (Cetoniinae), Weevils (Curculionidae), Longhorn Beetles (Cerambycidae), and Shield Bugs (Scutelleridae), each selected for its remarkable form and naturally vivid coloration. Mounted on slender brass armatures, the composition evokes the refined elegance of Victorian natural history displays while presenting them through a distinctly contemporary artistic vision. Both sculptural and scientific, Totems III exemplifies Hasharat's signature ability to transform preserved specimens into sophisticated works of art that blur the boundaries between cabinet of curiosities, museum exhibition, and contemporary design.

Measures: 9" W × 9" D × 22" H