a large butterfly artwork hangs in a contemprary home

Underwater butterfly prints

In this series, Alexander James Hamilton explores the symbolic resonance of butterflies as emblems of transformation, impermanence and the soul across various cultures. Drawing inspiration from Greek mythology, where butterflies are associated with the souls of the departed, Hamilton delves into themes of life, death and rebirth.

Each work is meticulously crafted through a process that involves breeding butterflies within the studio across multiple generations, fostering a profound understanding of their life cycles. These delicate creatures, emblematic of metamorphosis, are then photographed underwater using analogue techniques, without digital manipulation. The interplay of light and water's surface tension creates a painterly effect, rendering images that transcend the medium of photography.

Water, serving both as a medium and a metaphor, underscores the transient nature of existence. It acts as a nurturer and a destroyer, capable of preserving beauty or eroding it entirely. Through this duality, Hamilton's works invite contemplation on the fragility of life and the inevitability of change.

This collection stands as a poignant reflection on mortality, transformation, and the ephemeral beauty inherent in the natural world.

DOWNLOAD PDF CATALOGUE

Discover More

about the artist and the Distil Ennui Studio™

  • Transparency of a dream illuminated. Plate XIII  photographic print - €6950 | Shop now & buy direct from the artists studio - Distil Ennui ™ est.1990.

    Journal

    read about the many community led projects, studio practices and our extensive global artist residency program.

    EXPLORE 
  • Bibliography

    read and download the artists full CV

    READ 
  • Contact

    reach out to the studio

    CONTACT NOW 
1 / 3