Butterflies

Butterflies
The cocoon has finally burst –
a butterfly unfolds its wings,
exploring new heights
and tasting fresh delights.

Forgotten is that painful time
in the cocoon,
when life was disintegrating
and all hope died.

Death is
forever transformed
by the joy of
resurrection.

© Susanne Irving 2020

To me, butterflies are the ultimate symbol of resurrection and the story of Easter. Most butterflies start off as wormlike, vulnerable caterpillars, who are utterly dependant on a host plant for survival. Then comes the time in the cocoon where they are confined in a dark space – life as they knew it completely disintegrates. Yet one day, their prison bursts open, and a delicate, beautiful butterfly emerges who has been given wings to soar.

I am aiming to make environment-friendly choices in my whole production process, so I have chosen a carbon neutral printing company with printing facilities in the UK, EU and US for my prints. I print on Hahnemühle Bamboo due to the paper’s longevity and environmental credentials.

This is what Hahnemühle write about their paper: “Hahnemühle Bamboo is the world’s first FineArt inkjet paper made from 90% bamboo fibres, for a natural look and environmentally friendly paper production. The natural white, warm-toned bamboo paper does not contain optical brighteners, and stands out thanks to its soft, lightly textured felt structure and sensual feel. The matt premium inkjet coating delivers excellent printing results with defined reproduction of colour and detail, particularly for warm hues and monochrome prints. Bamboo is acid- and lignin-free and meets the most precise requirements in terms of age resistance. The unique combination of sustainable bamboo fibres, soft surface texture and impressive print quality gives the artwork outstanding expression and soul.”

3 print sizes are available: 20cm x 20cm (8” x 8”), 30cm x 30cm (12” x 12”) or 40cm x 40cm (14” x 14”). This includes a border of 1.5 cm (0.6”) for all prints.