Invited to the third edition of Torgon Natur’Art, an outdoor exhibition between the towns of Torgon and Vionnaz, the goal was to create a permanent artwork “live” over the course of three days. Building on the concept developed two years earlier for the project Apis mellifera (mellifera), the idea here was to convey a powerful message to the public in support of wild bees. The mosaic of honey lids titled Les grandes oubliées is accompanied by a “bee hotel” and an informational panel designed specifically for the artwork. Together, these elements invite passersby to learn more about biodiversity issues affecting pollinating insects, most of which are largely overlooked by the general public.

In Switzerland, there are more than 600 species of bees, but only one produces honey. Highly social and often featured in the media, the honeybee is, in a sense, the star of the pollinators, almost making us forget that there are many others… Wild bees (or solitary bees) do not make honey. The artwork shown here depicts one such bee. Paradoxically composed of several hundred honey caps (nearly 500), its slightly blurred appearance illustrates its slow disappearance in favor of honeybees — which, despite everything, are also in decline. A widespread tendency immediately associates bees with honey. This is a serious mistake. The “pixelated” appearance of the composition also reflects our sometimes imprecise understanding of biodiversity. Restoring the balance that connects us to nature, relearning how to coexist with it, and encouraging ourselves to gain a clearer picture of this grand landscape… This is the message of the work.