BEAUTIFUL BIOPHILIA NOW

CHRISTOPHER MARLEY

Christopher Marley’s obsession sprang from a deep-seated early fear of the very subject he would later come to master. Once repulsed, now enamoured, he began collecting insects and turning them into high art.

When he looked more closely, Marley, a visionary artist, began to see insects from the perspective of a designer, observing their form, function, and aesthetics. 

Marley not only conquered his initial bug phobia, but he became so obsessed with their beauty, that he began to create fascinating mosaic masterpieces by arranging their bodies to form intricate patterns. 

Nature is Marley’s palette, with preserved insects, fossils, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures as his “paint.” His elegant works of art celebrate the incredibly masterful design found low on the evolutionary ladder. 

Marley obsesses over spatial relationships, colors, shapes, sizes, textures, and other physical attributes of each each specimen, arranging, then rearranging, until he gets each one the way he wants it in relationship to the others.

Strong geometric patterns emerge. And as we gaze at Marley’s works, they expand our understanding and deepen our appreciation of the most humble of creatures. Marley elevates even the lowly dung beetle,  ephemeral moth, and the alienesque sea urchin, to show off their architectural marvels and aesthetic graces.  

One can only imagine the set-up, attention to detail, and level of experimentation that Marley undertakes. It’s easy to picture him obsessively contemplating something -- like bird feathers -- for days, if not weeks, then employing them, like the brush strokes of a master painter.

Marley readily admits to having biophilia, also known as a “love of life.” The concept was popularized in the 1970s by the psychologist Erich Fromm, who extended the definition to mean an inherent love of nature or “the passionate love of life and all that is alive.”

Biophilia, Marley’s lush new coffee-table book, displays hundreds of his meticulous arrangements. 

To source materials for his works, Marley created a global network of local collectors who collect insects and other specimens, using humane, sustainable practices, while preserving their habitats.

Marley’s obsession is really a labor of love. And he has a driving passion to share his newfound perspective. He wants to help foster a deeper appreciation for nature amongst people everywhere. You can purchase Marley’s prints on his site, Pheromone Design.

Read more about Beautiful Obsessions, as it relates to Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact including Crazy or Badass? Beautiful Obsessions Are Happening Now!

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: by Christopher Marley. Mosaic.
2. Image: by Christopher Marley. Sangaris Prism. From the center out: Flower beetle, Thailand; Jewel beetle, Indonesia; Red glider, Central African Republic; Leaf beetle, Indonesia; Flower beetle, Cameroon.
3. Image: by Christopher Marley.
4. Image: by Christopher Marley. Fulgens Prism (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan).
5. Image: by Christopher Marley. Lumens Prism.
6. Image: by Christopher Marley. Walking Leaves.
7. Image: by Christopher Marley. Solar Prism.
8. Image: by Christopher Marley. Elegans Prism (Thailand, Indonesia, Cameroon, Malaysia).
9. Image: Courtesy of Harry N. Abrams. Biophilia.
10. Image: by Christopher Marley. Feather Mosaic (Worldwide).
11. Image: by Christopher Marley. Tropical Fish Mosaic (Worldwide).
12. Image: by Christopher Marley. Mosaic.
13. Image: by Christopher Marley. Aesthetica Sphere (Worldwide species).
14. Image: by BN App - Download now!
15. Image: by Christopher Marley. Four Shield Bugs.