10. Lepidopterist

ETCHING+Soft-Ground / Printed with 4 Color Plates Etching Plate Size: 5.5x5.5" Paper Size:  8x11.5" "The Lepidopterist" explores the delicate balance between passion and obsession. The artwork reflects on the concept of a butterfly collection — capturing a moment of beauty, preserving the life of a fragile creature. What seems like an innocent hobby can become a consuming obsession, where one loses sight of the bigger picture by focusing solely on the object of fascination. In this work, the lepidopterist is surrounded by his collection, symbolizing the danger of becoming a part of a collection yourself. The piece invites viewers to reflect on how obsession can trap us in a cycle, potentially turning us into an exhibit in someone else's collection. The key to escaping this cycle lies in lifting your head, looking around, and sharing your collection with others.