acrylic, collage and relief on canvas
100cm x 120cm
Iain White, 2009
This work represents the iconic view of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) congregating on a tree trunk.during its annual migration in North America.
Monarch butterflies are known for the incredible mass migration that brings millions of them to California and Mexico each winter. North American monarchs are the only butterflies that make such a massive journey—up to 3,000 miles (4,828 kilometers). They must begin this journey each autumn ahead of cold weather, which will kill them if they tarry too long.
Many scientists are concerned about the eastern population of monarchs, which summer east of the Rocky Mountains. This group is occurring in ever smaller numbers, and its mass migration and over-wintering behaviour is under threat from large scale farming (including GM crops), forest degradation and human encroachment.
