Moths - Metamorphosis.

Moths: Metamorphosis constitutes an ongoing artistic series meticulously crafted by Allyson Reynolds. Unfurling across expansive stretched-linen canvases, Reynolds masterfully portrays an array of moth subjects in vivid detail. The focal point of her artistic exploration shifted to Gynnidomorpha alisman in 1997, following nighttime observations of these ethereal creatures congregating on windows and within sliding tracked doors. Reflecting on this inspiration, Reynolds remarked, "The moths that lay dead in the sliding track became my collection and an intriguing subject matter” (Reynolds, 2002).

While initially prompted by this opportunity to observe the intricate details of moth anatomy in a precarious state, the ensuing series of ink drawings and paintings transcends the morbidity of death. Instead, it delves into the physical nature and movement of moths, casting them in a luminous and vibrant light. The compositions vary in tone, from the bright and vivacious to the more subtle and mysterious. Though distinctly exotic, they lack the overt ‘prettiness’ associated with butterflies. Rather, these artistic renditions encapsulate ephemeral, intersecting exchanges between moth bodies, accentuating their paradoxical qualities—sharp and jagged yet soft and smooth, oscillating between rapid movements and still perched moments.

Perhaps most poignantly, these sharply contrasted visual snapshots serve as a testament to the brief and vibrant lifespan of moths, who spend their days seeking out the most brilliant sources of light. In Reynolds's own words, “I have become interested by the minute overlapping scales covering the moth wings as seen under the microscope – the moth ‘dust’. Whilst the scales and their arrangement are the starting point for the images, the painting process and the nature of the medium, dictates the resolved picture. This process has become like a meditation on quiet sounds” (Reynolds, 2002)

Lillian Whitaker, November 2023.